The call comes as newly elected MSPs prepare to take their seats at Holyrood and First Minister John Swinney begins appointing his ministerial team.

The cabinet‑level housing brief was created in 2025 when Mairi McAllan became Scotland’s first cabinet secretary for housing, following the Scottish Government’s declaration of a housing emergency.

The move came after ministers reversed a £200 million cut to the affordable housing budget and published the Housing Emergency Action Plan, culminating most recently in the establishment of the More Homes Agency — all long‑standing priorities for Shelter Scotland and its supporters.

Shelter Scotland director Alison Watson said removing the post now would jeopardise the progress made over the past year.

“As MSPs gear up for a new Parliament and ministers are appointed, it is vital a dedicated cabinet secretary is appointed to give housing a voice around the cabinet table,” she added.

“Progress stalled when housing was a junior role; new things happen when there is a dedicated voice for the housing emergency in Bute House.”

Ms Watson said the scale of the crisis demands senior political leadership, pointing to record numbers of children in temporary accommodation and social housebuilding at historic lows.

“Investing in social housing means investing in people’s health, education and in our communities,” she said. “Our housing system is broken and biased. We know homelessness is caused by the political choice not to build enough social and affordable homes.”

She added that homelessness disproportionately affects people experiencing poverty, racial inequality, care experience and contact with the justice system.

“These are the people we see at Shelter Scotland. These are the people who need a voice around John Swinney’s cabinet table. They cannot be an afterthought.”

Homelessness charity Crisis Scotland has backed Shelter Scotland’s position, warning that ending homelessness by 2040 will require sustained political leadership.

Maeve McGoldrick, head of policy and communications at Crisis Scotland, said: “Ending homelessness in Scotland requires sustained political leadership and long-term commitment across government.

“We support Shelter’s call for a cabinet secretary level post on housing to be maintained to ensure everyone in Scotland has access to a safe, secure home. Building enough social homes that Scotland needs is essential if we are to end homelessness by 2040.”

Both organisations argue that downgrading the role would send the wrong signal at a time when Scotland’s housing pressures are intensifying and delivery of new social homes has fallen sharply.