In the wake of the Scottish government’s recent declaration of a national housing crisis, CIH Scotland has expressed hope that this will prompt the necessary political reaction to address the pressing housing issues in Scotland.
Shirley-Anne Somerville, the social justice secretary, attributes the crisis to factors such as a decade of financial austerity in the UK, rising inflation, the increasing cost of living, and workforce shortages due to Brexit.
This acknowledgment by the Scottish government comes on the heels of the fifth local council, West Dunbartonshire, announcing their own housing emergency. This was preceded by similar declarations from Argyll and Bute, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Fife councils, with Fife making their announcement this past March amidst overwhelming housing and homelessness challenges.
The Scottish government’s declaration is a formal admission of the housing difficulties and includes a call for the UK government to restore Scotland’s reduced capital funding.
Somerville emphasized that housing costs are a significant burden for many in Scotland, with others unable to find adequate housing at all. She insisted that significant advancements in addressing the housing emergency require collaborative efforts from the UK and Scottish governments, as well as local authorities.
She also urged members of the Scottish Parliament to collectively press for an end to austerity, citing the damage it has caused to people throughout the nation.
The bipartisan support for declaring a housing emergency is seen as a positive step by Callum Chomczuk, CIH Scotland’s national director. He acknowledged their previous solidarity with local councils that had declared housing crises and reiterated their call for increased UK government funding and for the Scottish government to prioritize affordable housing projects.
Chomczuk highlighted the worsening situation, with two more councils declaring emergencies and statistics revealing that permission and commencement of affordable housing projects are at decade lows.
He stressed the necessity for not just declaring an emergency but also developing an emergency plan and securing funds to build the needed social housing to combat the housing and homelessness crisis in Scotland.
Timothy Douglas, the policy and campaigns head at Propertymark, also weighed in on the dire housing situation in Scotland.
He remarked that the housing issue in Scotland has reached a critical point where swift and direct measures are required. The lag in housing development has led to increased costs and an overwhelming scenario for many real estate agents and landlords.
Douglas pointed out that the housing shortage has been exacerbated by the COVID pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis. The disparity between housing availability and affordability is pushing home ownership beyond reach for most people, while local authorities face untenable pressures to provide temporary accommodations, with the system on the verge of collapse.
He concluded by emphasizing the urgent need for actions to accompany words and placing the resolution of the housing crisis at the forefront of the SNP administration’s priorities. He suggested the upcoming Housing Bill as a prime opportunity to address the challenges faced by local authorities, improve housing affordability by increasing availability, and create a tax environment that encourages landlords and home ownership.
