MSP SUPPORT FOR SHELTER’S CALL FOR THE RIGHT TO A HOME

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MSP SUPPORT FOR SHELTER’S CALL FOR THE RIGHT TO A HOME

Published date : 02 Jan 2020

Jenny Gilruth, MSP for Mid Fife and Glenrothes, has signed Shelter Scotland’s petition to have the right to a home enshrined in Scottish Law.

The campaign was launched after research conducted by YouGov for Shelter Scotland found that 88% of people surveyed agreed that everyone in Scotland should have a legal right to a safe, secure and affordable home.

A further 76% support a new law being created in Scotland for adequate housing for everyone in the country. The research also found that 78% support Shelter Scotland campaigning for stronger human rights in relation to housing.

Recently, the First Minister’s Advisory Group on Human Rights Leadership recommended a new Act of The Scottish Parliament on human rights. The would create an opportunity to underpin Scotland’s tangled web of housing rights by including the right to a home in Human Rights legislation for the first time.

Commenting on the campaign, the MSP said:

“I believe everyone should have the right to a decent, affordable home. That’s why I have signed Shelter Scotland’s petition in support of their ‘Are You With Us’ campaign.

“Housing may be a human right, but there is a noted gap between this technical right and what is protected under domestic law in Scotland.

“For thousands of Scots, a safe, secure and affordable home is out of reach. Citizens of Scotland deserve better protection to secure their right to a home.”

Launching the campaign, Graeme Brown, Director of Shelter Scotland, said:

“Too many people in Scotland don’t have access to the basic right of a decent and affordable home – which is simply wrong in the 21st century in one of the world’s wealthiest countries.

“There are more than 14,000 homeless children currently in Scotland and nearly 11,000 households in temporary accommodation. We also have rising numbers of people sleeping rough across the country. The evidence is clear – people’s rights to a home need to be significantly strengthened.

“Through this campaign we want the people of Scotland to know that a good home is their right – not a privilege – and it should be law.”

ENDS

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