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Protesters demand affordable rented housing |
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Wednesday, 12 September 2007 |
The Scottish Government has been urged to fund a huge expansion in affordable rented housing as part of what is being described as the biggest housing protest since the First World War.
Shelter Scotland delivered 30,000 postcards – one for each new home it
is calling on the Government to fund over the next three years – to
Cabinet Secretary John Swinney this morning.
The housing and homeless charity said the postcards, collected over the
summer, are the largest show of public feeling on a housing issue since
the Rent Strikes of 1915 and illustrate the strength of public feeling
behind its campaign for more affordable rented homes.
Archie Stoddart, director of Shelter Scotland, said: "Since the start
of the year, Shelter, along with other housing organisations, have been
urging Scottish politicians to commit to building 30,000 affordable
rented homes over the next three years.
"Since we launched our campaign, average house prices have risen over
£10,000 leaving even more people with no hope of joining the property
ladder, and there are still many thousands of people on house waiting
lists, or in temporary accommodation. Since we launched our campaign,
Gordon Brown has pushed housing to the top of the agenda south of the
Border, committing to building more homes than ever before.
Increasingly people say affordable housing must be a top priority in
Scotland.
"Priority must be given to increasing social housing to ensure that
those at the raw end of the housing crisis, like families stuck in
temporary accommodation, or in unsuitable housing, can get a house.
He added that it was not acceptable in cities like Edinburgh to have over 700 applications for one council house.
"John Swinney holds the purse strings on public spending and will make
the final decisions on what we spend Scotland's money on through this
year's comprehensive spending review. We've heard how we should expect
a tight spending programme for 2008-2011 but we cannot brush this
problem under the carpet. Over 30,000 members of the public agree with
us. It's time to get a move on and deliver the housing needed to
adequately house Scotland's people and meet the 2012 homelessness
target."
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