The Need for a Social Housing Strategy

That the Parliament notes with concern the recent quarterly housing statistics for Scotland, which show a 23% decrease in the number of local authority new builds completed over the past year; understands that this decrease comes as recent figures show record levels of homelessness across Scotland, including child homelessness, which reportedly hit the highest level since Scottish Government records began in 2002; acknowledges reported concerns from housing campaigners that the Scottish Government may not meet its target to deliver 110,000 affordable homes by 2032; understands that the rent cap does not apply to the social rented sector, which has seen rents rise by as much as 8% since March 2023; believes that it was a missed opportunity that the Scottish Government did not come forward with a social housing strategy in the Programme for Government 2023-24, and notes the calls for the Scottish Government to come forward with a social housing strategy to help to achieve its target of delivering 110,000 affordable homes by 2032, to reduce levels of homelessness across Scotland, and to support tenants in the social rented sector who are facing rent increases.