As the UK Government deliver the forthcoming budget, Lisa Weylandt, our Policy & Public Affairs Officer, looks back at the launch of our Housing report and what the Scottish Government could do with any potential increase to the block grant allocated to devolved nations.
Earlier this year, we published our Housing report, detailing the experiences of young people and families we support in accessing housing and housing support.
The report was borne out of our commitment to amplify the voices of children, young people, and families we support on issues that matter to them. Housing, unsurprisingly, is a major factor in the health and well-being of children, young people, and families.
“Most of the families we work with, one of the first complaints is the House.” (includem worker)
During our engagement with families and young people, 64% reported finding it difficult to access housing, leading to immense stress and financial pressure. When asked about the biggest challenges families and young people face in accessing housing, the following were most commonly raised:
Availability and affordability are a crucial part of why Scotland has declared a housing emergency. Too many families and young people are unable to find a place to call their home. We asked families and young people what having a stable home meant to them. 34% of respondents described a stable home in terms of ‘safety and security’, 23% described stable in terms of ‘family’, 23% described stable in terms of ‘stability’, 13% described stable in terms of ‘mental & physical wellbeing’.
“My children’s futures depend on this. It means we can live together safely. Right now, there is not enough room & it is unsafe.” (parent)
As well as struggling to access housing, we heard that many of the families we work with are living in accommodation that is damp and mouldy. The rising cost of energy is a key contributing factor, and we cannot ignore the fact that families and young people are pushed further into poverty by debt, unaffordable housing, and costs associated with heating and maintaining a home.
We asked families and young people what they would change if they were in charge of housing in Scotland.
“I would ensure all houses were liveable, no damp/mould and prices in line with cost of living.” (parent)
“Better conditions. More houses.” (young person)
Although housing policy is largely devolved in Scotland, today’s budget has the capacity to deliver hope through the block grant allocated to the Scottish Government, as well as funding allocated to the national housing programme, shaping how much funding the Scottish Government and Local Authorities have to deliver affordable homes and support families.
Tackling our housing emergency would go some way to tackling child poverty, a priority for both Governments.
The choices made in Westminster will have real impacts on whether Scotland can meet its targets for affordable housing and make progress in alleviating some of the pressures faced by families in insecure and unaffordable housing.
