The Scottish government has declared a national housing emergency to address the extent of the crisis in Scotland.
Scottish Labour tabled the motion for the second time at Holyrood on Wednesday (15/5) and this time the Scottish government reversed their previous position and formally recognised the situation.
Five local authorities, including Edinburgh, Glasgow and Argyll and Bute, have already declared a housing emergency as homelessness grows and a lack of supply persists.
A power-sharing Bute House Agreement was previously in place between the SNP and the Scottish Greens, but this came to an end in April 2024 at the hands of former Scottish minister, Humza Yousaf. The lack of a majority government meant that the current Scottish minister, John Swinney, was expected to face defeat in his first vote since taking charge, before the SNP decided to agree with Labour’s motion.
Ahead of the vote on Wednesday, social justice secretary, Shirley-Anne Somerville, told BBC Radio Scotland that the decision to declare the emergency shows Mr Swinney’s wish to be clear with the Scottish parliament and the public about the issues that face the country.
The SNP blamed the UK government and Brexit for the situation that faces Scotland, but Miles Briggs, the shadow housing secretary for the Scottish Conservatives, disputed that, saying: “Shirley-Anne Somerville has typically tried to blame Westminster but the SNP have received a record block grant and it is them who shamefully slashed £200m from the affordable housing budget.
“They – along with Labour – also backed the Greens’ illogical rent freeze policy which has instead hit tenants with soaring rents and has put the pause on much-needed housing developments.”
“Finally declaring a housing emergency must be more than lip service from the SNP.
“We must see ministers now reverse their deeply damaging cuts and take the urgent action required – including bringing thousands of empty properties back into use – to tackle Scotland’s housing crisis.”
Analysis by Shelter Scotland found that almost 10,000 children are ‘trapped’ in temporary accommodation, a record high that has risen by 138% since 2014. The number of households becoming homeless has also risen by 10% since last year while the building of new social housing has seen a ‘significant slowdown’.
