Action not words to deal with housing crisis

Mark Ferguson

The STUC will step up its campaign for increased and sustained investment in good quality, affordable social and council housing. New build programmes should be used to increase apprenticeships and employment in the construction industry, with full employment rights for workers.

Mark Ferguson, Chair of UNISON Scotland’s Housing Issues Group, told Congress that to make any progress on the issues of poverty, education, health and unemployment, there will first be a need to deal with the current housing crisis.

“A safe, warm and affordable home is the foundation to addressing all these issues,” he said.

With one million young people unemployed in the UK, a new social house building programme could provide many of them with apprenticeships and jobs in skilled areas of work “It’s not rocket science to work out that more homes provide new income streams and boosts the economy,” he added.

He spoke of a recent hustings where a Tory spokeswoman “unveiled their grand plan to deal with the housing crisis.

“Like Paul Daniels, out of the hat it came,” said Mark. “They are going to speed up the eviction process for anti-social tenants!

“As a housing professional, I know that the rise in anti-social behaviour is partly due to the lack of investment in our communities, lack of available housing, poverty and overcrowding,” he added, slamming attempts by the Tories to demonise working people.

Although welcoming some of the Scottish Government’s announcements and legislative changes, Mark warned that “it simply isn’t enough. It’s actions we urgently need – not words!”

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