Shelter Scotland

Far From Fixed campaigners in Edinburgh Shelter Scotland’s Fiona King on the housing wins within this week’s Programme for Government.

The Scottish Government has pledged to establish an expert group together with a £50 million fund with the aim of eradicating homelessness for good. Announced by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon as she delivered her Programme for Government for 2017/18 to the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday, the ‘En

Ruth Davidson The development of new towns, a cabinet level post for the housing minister and the creation of a new housing and infrastructure agency are among a raft of ideas to be announced by Ruth Davidson today as she outlines a fresh focus on housing for the Scottish Conservatives.

New analysis by BBC Scotland has suggested that some Scots could take up to ten years to save up for the deposit for their first home. According to BBC Scotland, a person on typical wages saving 10% of their take-home pay a month could take almost eight years to save up a 10% deposit for the average

A group of 24 Scottish charities have come together to urge the UK government to stop the roll-out of the Universal Credit system in Scotland. A major change the benefits system, Universal Credit replaces six existing benefits with one, and is designed to make the benefits process easier. The govern

With just under a month to go until Scottish Housing Day, the organisers behind the event are encouraging as many housing organisations as possible to get involved and consider hosting an event to raise public awareness of housing options and the great work people in housing do. Building on the succ

The development St. Stephen's School in Blairgowrie Carling Property Group (CPG) has become the first private developer in the country to receive affordable housing grant aid from the Scottish Government.

A plan designed to help people in Dundee who are homeless and to prevent it happening in the first place is set to be discussed by councillors. ‘Not Just A Roof’ sets out the strategic direction for the Dundee Homeless and House Options Strategic Planning Partnership for the next five years.

Alison Watson A new service is to offer support for members of the Gypsy Traveller community in the Forth Valley in an effort to relieve poverty and stop them becoming homeless.

Lisa Glass New figures from the National Records of Scotland can shed some light on the structural factors behind Scotland’s housing crisis, writes Lisa Glass.

Gavin Leask visits Orkney to see why the islands have amongst the highest rate of empty homes anywhere in Scotland. Last week I spent three days up in the Orkney Islands, training the newest member of the Scottish Empty Homes Network, Rachael Bowes. Her post is part funded by the Scottish Government

Young people and private renters are disproportionately affected by a “terrible shortage” of affordable homes in Scotland, according to a new report. Figures from Shelter Scotland’s ‘Impact Report’ have highlighted that a shortage of affordable homes, welfare reform and stagnant wages have

Beggars and rough sleepers in Glasgow city centre are damaging trade and putting shoppers off visiting the city, according to a leading Scottish business figure. Stuart Patrick, chief executive of Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, said there had been an undeniable rise in begging and the number of rough

People move in and out of properties every day. More often than not, the beginning and ending of tenancies go without any major problems – and words like ‘eviction’ never come into play. But, as Shelter Scotland’s Jocasta Mann writes, it can happen, and it is a daunting prospect if you’re

It has recently been suggested that we stop saying “homelessness can happen to anyone” because it somehow obscures the real risk factors and prevents those in power from tackling big structural issues. Shelter Scotland media officer Susie Rose reflects on when homelessness happened to her. These