Radical reform is urgently needed
All but one local authority in Scotland is set to receive less cash for social homes this year than they were in 2021-2022, despite a national housing emergency.
Data from the Scottish Government reveals 31 out of 32 local authorities have been allocated less money in 2025/26 despite the Scottish Government reversing the budgets cuts to the Affordable Housing Supply Programme.
The City of Edinburgh Council was the only local authority to see an increase in its resource planning assumptions (RPA) when compared with four years ago.
The Resource Planning Assumptions are the amount of money allocated to each local authority from the Scottish Government’s Affordable Housing Supply Programme. This is used to buy and build affordable homes with 70% of the budget earmarked for social homes provided by councils and housing associations.
Last year the Scottish Government cut the budget by nearly £200 million pounds, a decision that was reversed following campaigning by Shelter Scotland and other housing organisations.
Shelter Scotland warned that while the reversal of the housing budget cuts and targeting of funding was welcome, this data shows that spending remains lower – even in cash terms - than at the start of this parliament.
It has now been a year since a national housing emergency was announced, and the housing and homelessness charity is demanding that the Scottish Government and local authorities prioritise housing.
Speaking ahead of the Minsterial statement, Shelter Scotland Director, Alison Watson said: “It is time for Scotland’s politicians to be frank with the nation. There is no plan to end the housing emergency.
“It has been a year since a national housing emergency was declared by the Scottish Parliament, but almost all local authorities continue to have less money to spend on new social homes than they did in 2021/22.
“A Housing Bill, like the one currently going through the Scottish Parliament, that will not reduce rents, will not make it easier to build social housing and will not inject more cash into services to prevent homelessness cannot be the answer. We need radical action from our politicians.
“As 2.3 million adults in Scotland are impacted by the housing emergency, it is crucial that the Scottish Government sets out a plan as to how it will end the emergency. "Ministers must work with local authorities and ensure they have the resources that they need to deliver much needed social homes.
“It is welcome that City of Edinburgh Council is getting targeted, additional funding - a recognition that the lack of social supply is felt most acutely in Edinburgh. However, given that homelessness applications in the city have risen by over 33 per cent since 2021, more urgently needs to be done.
“Reversing the budget cut should have been the start not the end of the action needed. It is time for those in Government and those that aspire to Government to say what they will drop to prioritise everyone in Scotland having a safe secure home. If they can't, then they should be frank with the public and say that they believe homelessness is a price worth paying for their other priorities.
“We need a Programme for Housing. Not a Programme for Homelessness.”
