Màiri McAllan to publish Housing Emergency Action Plan

Cabinet secretary for housing Màiri McAllan

Ms McAllan will use her first parliamentary statement since being appointed as cabinet secretary for housing to publish her Housing Emergency Action Plan, which will encompass a clear commitment to children, to social justice and to creating the optimum conditions for investment in Scotland’s housing sector.

Commenting ahead of the statement, Ms McAllan said: “My driving mission since being appointed cabinet secretary for housing is to support the government’s ambition to eradicate child poverty, by ensuring no children have to live in unsuitable accommodation or need to spend long periods of time in temporary accommodation.

“My Plan marks a step change in achieving this.

“Despite the challenges of Brexit, austerity and the cost of living, we already have a strong record in affordable housing, having supported the delivery of 139,000 affordable homes since 2007 – 47% more per head than England, and 73% more than in Wales. Since we declared a housing emergency, we have taken 2,700 children out of temporary accommodation and into a permanent home, up to December 2024. Figures out today also show we have brought a record number of empty homes back into use this year.

“However, we must go further and faster. The Plan I set out today will demonstrate how we do that – with direct and immediate action to tackle the housing emergency, strong support for vulnerable communities and significant action to create the optimum conditions for confidence and growth in our housing sector.

“My plan will deliver positive and lasting change and critical to its success will be private and public sectors working together to tackle the housing emergency.”