Forward of native elections in 2022, we spoke to councillors from all 4 of Scotland’s greatest cities on the significance of delivering social housing to deal with the housing emergency. Because of the collective strain of greater than 12,300 folks throughout Scotland, metropolis leaders from throughout the political divide pledged to prioritise the pressing constructing of extra social housing – this dedication we imagine is the structural answer to the housing emergency.
Social houses permit folks to maneuver shortly by way of the homeless system and right into a everlasting house. Additionally they be sure that folks have a safe and reasonably priced place to dwell. We additionally know that social houses present further social worth, too. With out these social houses it is extremely troublesome to sort out youngster poverty and enhance well being, training and employment outcomes.
Sadly, within the final 12 months the housing emergency has solely obtained worse each at a nationwide stage and in lots of native authorities: a lot in order that the Scottish Housing Regulator described homeless companies as at “threat of systemic failure”.
We’ve got revealed report playing cards for the 4 native authorities with the biggest cities in Scotland, which observe progress in delivering the social houses that councils themselves have stated they want. Additionally they word the place there may be further or diminished strain on their homelessness companies. For instance, exhibiting the place there’s a discount or improve in open homelessness purposes, households turning into homeless, households in short-term lodging and common time spent in short-term lodging.
ABERDEEN
In April 2022 the Lib-Dems who now co-lead the council pledged to prioritise social home constructing in Aberdeen, and tied the supply of social houses to ending homelessness.
Aberdeen’s report card reveals that while town is exhibiting enhancements in some areas, with much less folks turn into homeless and fewer time spent in TA, homeless companies are busier than ever, and the variety of households trapped in TA is rising once more.
So, have Aberdeen’s elected officers prioritised social home constructing as they promised? Of their Strategic Housing Funding Plan Aberdeen Metropolis Council set out a goal to ship 385 reasonably priced houses per 12 months. If we assume 70% of those shall be social houses (in keeping with Scottish Authorities targets), this is able to imply 270 social houses must be delivered per 12 months. The most recent statistics present that between April – December 2022 467 social houses have been delivered in Aberdeen.
The truth that Aberdeen have already exceeded their goal this 12 months may be very constructive information. Progress in delivering the required social houses should nevertheless proceed, notably as they’re seeing an growing variety of households trapped in short-term lodging and growing strain on their homelessness companies.
DUNDEE
Dundee has scored effectively in 4 out of the six measures of the housing emergency. Nevertheless, the numbers of youngsters in TA and the common size of time {that a} family stays in TA are each growing. Each of those are trigger for concern.
Regardless of enroll from the chief of the council in April 2022 committing to constructing social housing, and together with of their Strategic Housing Funding Plan a goal that 200 new social houses have to be delivered annually, Dundee solely delivered 24 social houses between April and December 2022.
They don’t seem to be on observe to fulfill their goal, which signifies that the housing emergency in Dundee will worsen. Extra folks will turn into homeless, homeless companies will turn into overwhelmed and these households shall be trapped in short-term lodging with no social houses for them to maneuver on to.
EDINBURGH
In April 2022 Labour, who at the moment are the governing get together of Metropolis of Edinburgh Council, signed our pledge to prioritise constructing social houses in Edinburgh. Their get together was additionally elected to town council on a manifesto which made commitments to ship many extra social houses. Nevertheless, a 12 months on the council doesn’t seem to have saved to its promise.
Edinburgh is going through a rising housing emergency which reveals on nearly each indicator: extra open homeless purposes, extra youngsters and households trapped in short-term lodging, and the common size of time a family spends in short-term lodging is rising too.
While Edinburgh must urgently ship way more social housing, the newest figures present that they’re approach astray, delivering solely 185 social houses between April and December 2022. In keeping with their Strategic Housing Funding Plan they need to ship 1,111 social houses per year1. The Metropolis of Edinburgh Council should prioritise the pressing supply of social houses and name for the assist they require to ship these houses if they’re to have any hope of addressing the rising housing emergency within the metropolis.
GLASGOW
Within the run as much as the native council election we acquired pledges from councillors throughout all events to prioritise social home constructing in Glasgow. This included the assist of Housing Convener Kenny McLean.
Glasgow Metropolis Council has made progress in addressing the excessive numbers of households and kids in short-term lodging within the metropolis. Nevertheless, the statistics reveals that the housing emergency continues to be clear: there are growing numbers of households turning into homeless, and homelessness companies have gotten busier.
In keeping with Glasgow’s Strategic Housing Funding Plan they should ship 910 new social houses a 12 months. Nevertheless, the newest statistics present that between April and December 2022, solely 423 social houses have been accomplished, which means they’re not on observe to fulfill their goal. If extra social houses aren’t constructed and this goal continues to be missed then the housing emergency in Glasgow will solely worsen.
The housing emergency is rising and strain is growing on many native authorities throughout Scotland – with elevated demand on their homeless companies and growing challenges to delivering the social houses wanted. However with out full and frank accountability and an consciousness of how distant we’re from assembly targets, we gained’t have the ability to galvanise the sources required to finish the housing emergency. These report playing cards intention to offer that marker to ask our collective selves – is that this sufficient and if not, what must occur subsequent? We can’t ignore the strain native authorities are below and way more must be executed to assist them to ship the social houses required and supply the homelessness companies that folks urgently want.
Native authority report playing cards June 2023 knowledge briefing – Shelter Scotland
