Rennie comments on embargoed housing report

Commenting on the embargoed report commissioned by Shelter Scotland, CIH Scotland and SFHA into Scotland’s housing need, Scottish Liberal Democrat communities spokesperson Willie Rennie MSP said:

“This report sets out the scale of the challenge we face in tackling the housing emergency. Through years of drift the SNP government deprioritised housing and stopped listening to the needs of the sector and of ordinary people who are desperate for a home.

“Homelessness applications rose again last year and the number of households and children in temporary accommodation hit record highs. Concerningly the number of homeless households not even being offered temporary accommodation spiked to over seven thousand.

“Slashing the affordable housing budget by the SNP and Greens was a grave mistake which Scottish Liberal Democrats reversed in this year’s budget. However we need to go further to build more homes, bring thousands of empty homes back into use and re-establish social rent as a valid, long-term option.”