Scottish Labour will hold a debate on the immense pressure facing Scotland’s housing system and move a motion declaring a housing emergency.

Five local authorities have already made such a declaration in the face of increasing homelessness figures and a lack of supply.

It is Scottish Labour’s second attempt to push MSPs to “stand up for struggling Scots” and acknowledge the extent of the crisis in housing across the country.

The party has urged all parties to unite behind the motion and develop plans to address the crisis, specifically highlighting the Scottish Greens who previously voted down a motion seeking to declare a housing emergency. However, it is understood the SNP’s former coalition partners have not yet decided on how they will vote.

Speaking ahead of the debate, Labour housing spokesman Mark Griffin said there was “no doubt” Scotland was “in the grips of a housing emergency”.

“The SNP government has not only ignored this crisis but actively fanned its flames with its brutal cuts to the housing budget,” he added.

“Tackling this housing emergency is key to dealing with the cost of living crisis and driving down poverty – the SNP cannot remain in denial about the scale of this emergency.

“The Greens have an opportunity to hold the SNP government to account for a litany of failures on housing, including plans to tear up the Bute House Agreement affordable housing pledge.

“I urge all parties to stand up for struggling Scots and back this motion acknowledging the housing emergency Scotland faces so we can develop a real plan to fix it.”

The motion reflects longstanding calls from Shelter Scotland to declare a national housing emergency.

The charity pointed to the 10,000 children in Scotland living in temporary accommodation, rising homelessness, failing local services, and runaway private rents as evidence of Scotland’s housing emergency.

However, it added that any declaration must be swiftly followed by a plan to deliver the urgent action needed to end the housing emergency; delivering more social homes and ensuring local homelessness services have the resources they need to do their jobs.

Shelter Scotland director, Alison Watson, said: “Scotland is clearly in a housing emergency and it’s time for our politicians to unite, recognise that it’s devastating the communities they represent, and tell us what they’re going to do to end it.

“The last time this issue was debated at Holyrood, John Swinney said if we’re going to declare a housing emergency then we need to put our money where our mouth is – he now has a chance to do just that. The First Minister’s mission to end child poverty is a noble one, but it simply cannot succeed while 10,000 children have nowhere to call home.

“I would urge MSPs across the parliament to back the declaration and commit to taking the kind of urgent action we need to fix our utterly broken housing system.”