East Kilbride Housing Association is calling on political parties to support investment in the social housing sector.
Ahead of next month’s Scottish Parliament election, the association believes this will kickstart the country’s recovery post pandemic.
It is making this call to support the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations’ (SFHA) election campaign, Housing Changes Lives.
SFHA is the national representative body for Scotland’s housing associations and cooperatives.
The federation said its manifesto calls will support Scotland’s recovery from Covid-19 by tackling housing need, reducing poverty and creating jobs.
The manifesto asks include calling for the next Scottish Government to commit to:
- Deliver 53,000 affordable homes, including 37,100 for social rent, between 2021 and 2026
- At least £3.4 billion investment, to help deliver these homes, which rises with increasing development costs during the next parliament
- A new government fund for improving and refurbishing existing housing stock
- Increasing fuel poverty and energy efficiency funding to £244 million for 2021/22
- Increasing social landlords’ adaptations funding to £17 million per year
- A new long-term fund which will enable social landlords, the third sector and communities to work together for those most impacted by the effects of Covid-19.
Andy Young, EK Housing Association chief executive, said: “East Kilbride has hidden pockets of deprivation which have been exacerbated by the pandemic.
"EKHA has been a vital community hub and source of support during these unprecedented times, and with the help of the Scottish Government, social landlords like us can continue to tackle the inequalities experienced by many of our residents.
"We therefore very much support the manifesto put forward by the SFHA”.
SFHA chief executive Sally Thomas said: “Our manifesto sets out where the next Scottish Government and housing associations and co-operatives can work together to deliver for Scotland and its people.
"No other sector has- the ability to influence social and economic change to the same extent as the social housing sector."
