While housing is devolved to Holyrood, Shelter Scotland has called on candidates in the upcoming UK general election to acknowledge the reality of Scotland’s Housing Emergency and act in three key areas to end it.

The charity urged the next UK Government to; reform benefits to ensure they keep pace with housing costs, end the ‘hostile environment’ and adequately fund councils to ensure they can meet the housing needs.

The charity urged the next UK Government to:

• Reform benefits to ensure they keep with housing costs
• End the ‘hostile environment’ and ensure councils have the funding necessary to meet the housing needs of refugees and people seeking asylum
• Increase the capital grant to Scotland to protect future housing budgets and invest in public services to ensure growing demand on homelessness services is met

Shelter Scotland director, Alison Watson, added: “Scotland’s housing emergency is devastating communities across the country. It demands an urgent response from all levels of government, including the next UK Government.

“More than a decade of austerity has left wages and benefits lagging far behind the real cost housing. Far too many people continue to have to choose between heating their homes, feeding their families, and keeping a roof over their head; that’s something the next UK Government needs to swiftly address.

“For a long time now, cruelty has been at the heart of the UK’s policy towards people fleeing violence and persecution. The hostile environment has divided our communities and undermined councils’ ability to deliver the homes we all need. The next government has a chance to adopt a truly anti-racist approach to migration and asylum, embedding dignity and humanity into policymaking.

“Finally, it’s vital that the next UK Government ensures that the capital grant to Scotland keeps pace with inflation so that future housing budgets can be properly protected.

“We continue to live with the consequences of political decisions made in the 80s, and the decisions made by politicians today will have ramifications far into the future. When it comes to housing, there’s no room for error.”

The housing and homelessness charity has also accused ministers that they risk ignoring the will of the Scottish Parliament after the Scottish Government confirmed it would not produce a housing emergency action plan.

A motion passed at Holyrood in May called on ministers to bring forward an urgent action plan to tackle the housing emergency, with cabinet secretary Shirley-Anne Sommerville confirming that the government would bring forward a plan.

In response to a written question at Holyrood, housing minister Paul McLennan has now confirmed the Scottish Government will U-turn on that commitment and instead press on with existing plans.

Alison Watson added: “Three weeks ago, every political party in the Scottish Parliament accepted there was a national housing emergency. MSPs backed a motion which promised to deliver an urgent action plan including ‘actions that will reduce the number of children stuck in temporary accommodation by the end of this parliamentary session’. Ministers have now indicated that they do not intend to follow through on that promise, defying the will of Parliament and risking all credibility on the issue.

“There are nearly 10,000 children in Scotland with nowhere to call home, record numbers are trapped in temporary accommodation, and local homelessness services are either broken or breaking under the weight of ever growing demand; the current strategy is failing and proposals like those in the Housing Bill will not come into force for many years to come.

“Parliament has told the Scottish Government it needs to act and act now. The Cabinet Secretary said she would act. They must think again and deliver on the promise they made.”

Housing minister Paul McLennan said: “There is no u-turn in our commitment. We are working collaboratively across the housing sector to identify specific actions to address the current housing emergency. On Friday, I met with the Housing to 2040 Strategic Board to agree how we can work together to respond.

“Housing to 2040 remains our key overarching strategy that sets out a vision and roadmap to ensuring everyone has a safe, good quality and affordable home by 2040. That has not changed, however, we intend to review actions and priorities in the short term to respond to the housing emergency.

“I intend to provide Parliament with an update on the action we will take shortly.”