Anas Sarwar calls on SNP to 'take responsibility' for Scotland's housing emergency

-Credit: (Image: PA)
-Credit: (Image: PA)


Anas Sarwar has called for the SNP Government to "take responsibility" for Scotland's housing emergency which has left record numbers of people facing homelessness.

The Scottish Labour leader spoke out ahead of a debate on the issue at Holyrood tomorrow after official figures revealed the number of people registering themselves as homeless had reached the highest level in over a decade.

A severe lack of affordable housing - particularly in the country's biggest cities - has also pushed the number of households stuck in temporary accommodation to a record high.

It comes after charities warned that rough sleeping is also on the rise and claimed SNP ministers had failed to listen to experts on the issue.

Figures uncovered by Scottish Labour have revealed that families registered as homeless are now typically spending more than a year and a half stuck in temporary accommodation.

The average time couples with children have already spent living in temporary accommodation as of 31 March 2024 was a staggering 565 days, with average stays in some areas almost reaching two years.

Sarwar has called for Paul McLennan, the Housing Minister, to be sacked as a result.

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The Labour leader said: "It is a scandal that Scottish families are being left in limbo for months and even years on end.

"No-one should have to spend their childhood dealing with the anxiety and insecurity of temporary accommodation, but that is the heartbreaking reality of the SNP’s housing emergency.

"SNP incompetence has consequences and once again it is the most vulnerable people in Scotland paying the harshest price.

"If John Swinney chooses to keep the Housing Minister in post despite his abject failure, it is a sign that this SNP government has well and truly given up on governing.

"The SNP must take responsibility for its record of shame on housing and start treating this national emergency with the urgency it deserves."

It comes as the Scottish Government today announced it would issue two new bonds, via finance intermediary Allia, to two housing associations to build more than 150 new homes.

The Charitable Bond Programme, which was introduced in 2014, provides loans to social landlords with the interest being reinvested by the Scottish Government into the affordable housing budget.

McLennan said: "Tackling the housing emergency requires bold thinking and investment in Charitable Bonds is another tool we can use to increase investment in our affordable housing budget.

“This has been a successful model in the past but is reliant on Financial Transaction funding from the UK Government. This funding, which is vital in housebuilding, has been cut by 62 per cent since 2022.

"While we are demonstrating what we can do with the devolved powers and levers we have, it is vital that the UK Government reverses that cut so we can increase investment in the affordable housebuilding sector.

"We have a strong track record in affordable housing with 133,000 homes delivered since 2007, 93,000 of which are for social rent. However, tackling the housing emergency requires joint working from the Scottish and UK Governments and local authorities."

Responding to McLennan, Lib Dem economy spokesman Willie Rennie said: "17 years on, the Minister has the temerity to come here today pretending to have a plan to match the scale of the housing emergency that his government created.

"He's spent more time inventing excuses than finding solutions and building homes here."

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