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Expanding coalition calls for housing action |
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Tuesday, 12 June 2007 |
A coalition of 24 Scottish organisations will take their case for more homes to the politicians’ door step tomorrow with a reception in the Scottish Parliament.
The coalition, led by housing and homelessness charity Shelter
Scotland, includes members from business groups, church groups, trade
unions, environmental groups and the health and housing sectors.
Archie Stoddart, director of Shelter Scotland, said: "We have come
together with these 23 other organisations to reinforce to politicians
and the public that housing is central to everyone's lives.
"The new government cannot afford to ignore the problem that is
Scotland's housing crisis. 2007 presents our best opportunity to
increase investment in housing and build 30,000 affordable homes for
rent over the next three years. Housing is central to the lives of all
Scots."
The five latest members to join the coalition are the British Medical
Association, Child Poverty Action Group, Council of Mortgage Lenders,
the Poverty Alliance and the Scottish Secondary Teachers’ Association.
John Dickie, head of Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland, said: "The
quarter of a million children still facing poverty in Scotland too
often grow up in poor quality, cold, damp and overcrowded housing.
Successfully tackling child poverty must mean all families have a
decent affordable home in which to raise their children."
Dr Peter Terry, chairman of the BMA in Scotland, added: "Environmental
and social factors affect the public's health and the BMA believes that
one of the most significant moves that we could take to reduce health
inequalities in Scotland is to integrate health impact assessments into
all aspects of government policy to create a culture of joined up
government.
He said the links between poor housing and ill health was established
more than two centuries ago and yet today one in six families with
children live in damp homes.
He continued: "Improving living standards will make an immense
difference to people's health and the physical and psychological health
problems associated with poor housing would lessen. We need to bridge
the gap between housing and health policy, and we are therefore pleased
that this is a feature of the new Health & Wellbeing Department of
the Scottish Executive."
David Eaglesham, general secretary, Scottish Secondary Teachers'
Association, said that good quality affordable housing is an "absolute
essential" to the well being and educational development of young
people in Scotland. He added: "If good housing is universally
available, the life chances of our young people will be greatly
enhanced."
Peter Kelly, director of the Poverty Alliance, said: "Ensuring good
quality and affordable housing should be at the heart of creating a
more socially just Scotland. Without providing good housing for all,
the new Government's efforts to tackle poverty by getting more people
into work or reducing health inequalities will be undermined.
"The Poverty Alliance supports Shelter's housing statement and hopes
that all MSPs will work together to deliver the changes needed to
provide decent housing for all."
No one has commented on this article.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 12 June 2007 )
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