The charity has published its Local Manifesto for Homes which includes demands aimed at boosting the supply of affordable homes, strengthening the housing safety net, improving renting and ensuring housing is recognised as key to achieving a fairer Scotland.

The manifesto is asking politicians to commit to four key aspirations:

In support of its local elections manifesto, the housing and homelessness charity is holding housing hustings across Scotland with the first in Edinburgh on April 6.

Voters in the capital, Glasgow, Dundee and Aberdeen will get the chance to quiz candidates on what they would do to ease the housing crisis.

Graeme Brown, director of Shelter Scotland, said: “Our Local Manifesto for Homes complements our current national campaign Homelessness: Far From Fixed which highlights the unacceptable situation of homelessness in Scotland today.

“At the heart of our manifesto and our campaign is the need for a home for everyone in Scotland.

“We are challenging all local election candidates, from all parties, to sign-up to both our manifesto for homes and our campaign call for a new national homelessness strategy to better tackle and prevent homelessness in Scotland.”

Graeme Brown added: “We know that housing is a priority for many people in Scotland and that’s why we’re organising local election hustings in our four largest cities to give people a chance to ask representatives from each of the main parties what they will do if elected to finally fix homelessness and bad housing in their local area.”

Shelter Scotland housing hustings: