Crisis welcomes Scottish budget support for homelessness prevention

Crisis response to draft Scottish budget 2025-26

Maeve McGoldrick, head of policy and communications for Crisis in Scotland, said: “We strongly welcome the Scottish Government’s commitment to invest in new social and affordable housing and to provide £4 million in additional funding to deliver new homeless prevention pilots in Scotland.

“Investment in truly affordable housing for those on the lowest incomes is one of the most effective ways to prevent homelessness. We also strongly welcome the new investment to pilot homelessness prevention support.

“Piloting new plans to prevent homelessness in the Housing Bill will help people across Scotland avoid the trauma of homelessness. This will be essential in addressing the national housing emergency – because unless we act to prevent homelessness and reduce demand on the homelessness system, councils will be forever firefighting.

“We also know acting to mitigate the impact of the two-child cap on welfare support will reduce levels of child poverty and stop more people from forced into the trauma and indignity of homelessness.

“Homelessness is not inevitable - with the right political commitment we can end it, and build a Scotland where everyone has a safe, secure place to call home.”