Gavin Smith: CIH Scotland manifesto demonstrates value of affordable housing

Taking over as chair of the CIH Scotland board in 2021 was an honour and a privilege, but I knew there were significant challenges ahead. In my 30 years as a housing professional the housing sector has consistently shown that it is resilient, our people are dedicated and in tough times, housing is key to holding communities together and providing vital support to vulnerable households.

Already facing significant issues and challenges, we emerged from the global pandemic feeling, like most, a little damaged. However, we had proven that putting housing first was possible; indeed, we demonstrated the true importance of high quality, affordable and safe homes as a foundation for wider life opportunities. Partnership working could do wonders when there were resources to incentivise it and barriers were removed to facilitate quick, decisive action.

Social landlords became community hubs providing regular check-ins with vulnerable households, distributing food packages and keeping people digitally connected while they had to stay physically distanced.

People recognised the importance of having a good quality home with enough space to live comfortably, to work from home if needed and to access local amenities. Importantly, the government recognised the role of housing and published a 20-year strategy, the first of its kind. With a focus on social homes, Housing to 2040 promised us accessible, affordable homes and a fairer housing system that put people before profit and responded to calls from the sector for a longer-term plan.

Fast forward through escalating inflation, a cost of living crisis, and global political turmoil and we are losing some of the progress we had made.

Housing is in a state of emergency both nationally and at a local level, with the impact being felt by half of the population. I’m personally devastated that homelessness is at an all-time high, and social landlords are once again stretched to their limit.

While the cabinet secretary’s recent statement and Housing Emergency response is welcome, and provides many of the right areas of focus, our research shows the government’s funding does not meet the level of investment required to resolve the crisis.

The situation is not ideal - but what would this picture look like without the vision, ambition and campaigning from organisations like CIH, our members, and the wider housing sector?

During my time as chair of CIH Scotland, we have:

• Made the case for increased investment in social and affordable homes
• Campaigned for continued investment in Rapid Rehousing Transition Plans (RRTPs), which has now been committed to for another year
• Launched a new professionalism toolkit to support housing organisations across Scotland
• Called for recognition of the important role of the private rented sector (PRS) and received commitment from government to develop a new PRS strategy. 

I’m proud of what we have achieved together, and I know that the housing sector will continue to make a strong, and loud, case for the value that housing contributes across a wide range of metrics – improving health and wellbeing, reducing poverty, contributing to climate change commitments and supporting the economy.

As I step down as chair of the CIH Scotland board later this year, I’ll be leaving you with a manifesto for housing. We’ve worked with CIH members and the wider housing sector to develop five key outcomes that are needed to tackle the housing emergency and resign housing insecurity as a relic of the past.

Our manifesto calls for:

1. Affordable homes - everyone has access to a home that they can afford whatever their circumstances are at different points in time.  
2. Meeting changing needs – building partnerships, investing in prevention, and supporting better wellbeing at all stages of life. 
3. Net-zero homes – our homes are energy efficient, fit for the future and affordable to heat.
4. Well-managed homes - the housing workforce is knowledgeable, professional and resilient.
5. Empowered residents - tenants and homeowners are aware of their rights and what they can expect from a well-functioning housing system.

I urge you to use this manifesto and the research that underpins it to challenge your local candidates in the run-up to the elections next year – ask them about their understanding of the contribution that affordable homes make, the impact it has across their constituency and how they will prioritise housing and support services in your community.

One of the key points that our members kept making throughout our manifesto development sessions was the need for strong, decisive leadership. For politicians to listen to the sector and provide the resources needed to turn ambition into action. As I hand over the reins to the next CIH Scotland chair, I know that you will support her in holding our future leaders to account.