New research by YouGov commissioned by the charity found that more than three out of five adults (68%) in Scotland think politicians in Holyrood should be doing more to tackle the issue of housing.

To mark the launch of its Delivery Plan, ‘Delivering Homes, Delivering Rights’, Shelter Scotland reveals that 88% of adults believe the development of new affordable homes is important for Scotland, while as many as 66% say they don’t know much or anything at all about their housing rights.

The Delivery Plan calls on the next Scottish Government to:

• Build at least 15,693 new social homes a year, backed by £8.8 billion investment
• Make urgent progress on a National Housing and Land Agency to bring forward publicly owned land for social housing and oversee skills, training and planning
• Use existing housing stock to tackle homelessness
• Uphold and enforce housing rights, with no rollback on existing rights
• End systemic inequality in the housing system.

Shelter Scotland director Alison Watson said: “The devastating reality of Scotland’s persistent housing emergency is that we are still seeing the consequences of the failure to deal with the backlog of homelessness. Our research shows the public wants real action on housing.

“As we look towards the Scottish election in May next year, Shelter Scotland is urging all politicians to commit to urgently delivering the social homes we so desperately need and protect the rights that keep people safe. Thousands of children across Scotland are currently stuck in temporary accommodation, denied the stability that a permanent home provides, and there’s a real risk that situation could deteriorate even further.

“We need our politicians to step up and deliver a future where everyone in Scotland has their right to safe, permanent, home upheld. We can’t afford another lost generation on housing.” 

Soran’s story  

Soran, his wife and three children battled with mould, damp and maggots when they were placed in temporary accommodation for over two years in Glasgow. The devastating conditions forced the family of five to share just one room - leading to one of his children developing a chest infection. Finally in July, Soran received the news that a permanent three-bed home was available to which he describes it as a ‘dream home’.

Soran said: “The temporary house was horrible and devastating. Ours was a nightmare and we had to evacuate the master bedroom due to the mould and dampness. Then we realised the living room was not safe either due to the small maggots under the carpet, so it wasn’t safe for the wee one. My wife and children had to share one small bedroom and sleep on the floor.

“Me and my wife were always consulting each other, and we knew there was a long waiting list. We kept reporting our situation and kept ourselves calm. We truly thanked and prayed to everyone who helped us get our dream house, and hopefully no one suffers what we suffered.”

Speaking about his new home, Soran added: “When we found out, me and my wife were shaking and couldn’t stop smiling. It meant so much for everyone in the family. My wife loves the kitchen, and my daughter is so happy to have her own room for studying. In a way it was like we’ve been watching black and white TV, then after a long period we been offered a colour TV. For me, all the stress has gone.”