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STV News
03-07-2025
- Politics
- STV News
‘Radical change' necessary to meet housing needs of ageing nation, report warns
'Radical change' is needed as too many of Scotland's homes fail to meet the needs of an ageing population, a report has warned. The Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA) has called on MSPs to create a national strategy for housing the elderly and people with disabilities. In its Homes Fit For The Future report, it points out that 70% of the country's housing stock was built before 1982, with many unfit for the needs of Scotland's ageing population. It said within 20 years, more than a quarter of Scotland's population will be aged 65 or over, whilst those under 16 are projected to make up just over half that amount (13.3%). The SFHA has raised concerns about the impact unsuitable housing already has on disabled and older people and has warned the situation will get worse as the country ages. It said this will have severe consequences for the NHS and social care. Despite looming pressures, it said the Scottish Government's accessible housing working group has not met since 2021. As well as calling for a national accessible housing strategy, SFHA has said newbuild homes across all forms of housing should be built to a common design standard, ensuring they are accessible for elderly and disabled people. The report has called on MSPs to ensure grants for social housing allow investment in technology such as digital applications, which can allow people to live independently, prevent injuries, and reduce hospital admissions. Other types of technology include fall-detection sensors and voice-enabled companions. SFHA policy manager Susie Fitton, who wrote the report, said: 'The devastating impact of Scotland's housing emergency is well documented. 'We desperately need more homes being built, but we need to be strategic about the design of these homes to ensure they will serve the needs of people as they age. 'Most of our current housing stock was designed for a previous century and we must update our approach. 'Across Scotland there are around 78,000 people we currently know need an adaptation to live independently in their home. The real number is likely to be higher and it will only climb as our population gets older. 'We want to see a national accessible housing strategy. Policymakers must ensure that the funding and systems in place for delivering adaptations are significantly improved to meet the need.' Ms Fitton said a common design standard would ensure homes are made accessible from the day they are built, which she said is the best way to ensure they are fit for the future. She added: 'Meeting the needs of our ageing population will require radical and innovative solutions, which includes embracing technological change. 'Given technology can allow people to live independently and prevent injuries and hospital admissions, then policymakers must ensure social housing grant levels are enough to invest in such preventative technology from the outset when building new homes.' The Scottish Government has been approached for comment. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
STV News
12-06-2025
- Politics
- STV News
Scottish housing crisis is making people suicidal, industry warns
A housing industry leader has said the Scottish housing crisis is causing people to have suicidal thoughts. Susie Fitton from the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA) told MSPs on Thursday that social landlords speak to people 'expressing suicidal thoughts about their housing issues' on a regular basis. The SFHA policy manager told MSPs on Holyrood's social justice and social security committee that over one in ten staff, on a daily or weekly basis, had spoken to applicants expressing suicidal thoughts about their housing issues.q Ms Fitton added: 'This really is the side of the housing emergency that doesn't really get talked about very often.' She said the issue had been raised at the SFHA annual conference earlier this week when 'somebody said 'we need registered social landlords in Scotland to stop people from feeling like they need to kill themselves because of their housing situation''. She also told the committee that demand for social housing – provided by councils and housing associations – is 'obviously outstripping supply in many areas'. MSPs took evidence on the housing crisis on Thursday morning as at least 12 councils have already declared local housing emergencies. The first was declared by Argyll and Bute Council in June 2023. Edinburgh, Glasgow, Fife and West Dunbartonshire Councils followed suit. The Scottish Government formally declared a national housing emergency on May 15, 2024. Nationally, 17,424 households were classed as either being homeless or threatened with homelessness between April 1 and September 30 last year. As of September 30, there were a record 16,634 households living in temporary accommodation – which included 10,360 children. Tony Cain, from the Association of Local Authority Chief Housing Officers (ALACHO), told MSPs: 'It doesn't matter where you are in Scotland, there is a shortage of social rented homes, it is as simple as that. 'There are more people looking for a social rented home than there are homes available each year to meet their needs.' While he stressed the importance of 'plotting a way out of the housing emergency', he also said there is a need to ensure 'those who are caught up in it are safe'. Noting 242 people who had been in contact with services to help the homeless had died in 2022-23, he insisted not enough resources are being put into supporting vulnerable households. Mr Cain said: 'The right support at the right moment makes a big difference and we are simply not putting enough resources into support services to understand people's needs, the risks that they face and to keep them safe. 'So as well as finding a way out, safely managing services to people who are caught in it is critical. 'We need to be offering more support to vulnerable households and we aren't resourced to do that at the moment.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
