Tackling Homelessness

SFHA: Housing associations have a crucial role to play in dealing with homelessness.

The Scottish Federation of Housing Associations will tell the Scottish Parliament today that housing associations and co-operatives have a crucial role to play in the prevention and alleviation of homelessness in Scotland. 

Speaking ahead of the Infrastructure and Capital Investment Committee Inquiry into Homelessness in Scotland, Andy Young, SFHA Policy and Membership Manager, said:

"Housing associations in Scotland now own and manage 280,000 homes - almost half of the country's affordable rented housing stock. It therefore follows that they have a pivotal role to play in implementing Scotland's forward-thinking homelessness legislation. They understand this and for the most part embrace it.

"However, it isn't simply a matter of providing properties and tenancies. Housing associations also prevent homelessness, or indeed, crucially, homeless applications - from occurring in the first place, by ensuring that existing tenancies are sustained. There are scores of excellent examples of tenancy sustainment initiatives across the length and breadth of Scotland. The reduction in eviction levels by our sector over the past four or five years is well documented and most welcome - this is despite some of the most draconian welfare legislation in history, seriously affecting tenants' ability to pay their rent. 

"Strong partnerships between local authorities, housing associations, the private rented sector and the third sector are vital, while local flexibility is a major strength of the current arrangements for housing homeless people."