Crisis responds to the appointment of Shirley-Anne Somerville as Social Justice and Housing Secretary in the Scottish Government

Crisis Scotland has welcomed the appointment of Shirley-Anne Somerville as Social Justice and Housing Secretary in the Scottish Government, saying her appointment comes at a pivotal moment for tackling Scotland’s housing and homelessness crisis.

Maeve McGoldrick, Head of Policy and Communications at Crisis Scotland, said: “We warmly welcome the appointment of Shirley-Anne Somerville to the role of Social Justice and Housing Secretary at such an important time for Scotland. We look forward to working closely and constructively with her and the Scottish Government in the years ahead to help turn the shared ambition of ending homelessness by 2040 into a reality.

“Scotland’s housing emergency continues to affect far too many people and families. Thousands remain trapped in temporary accommodation, while housing insecurity is pushing more people into poverty and placing increasing pressure on frontline homelessness services.

 “Bringing together responsibility for social justice and housing creates a real opportunity to take a more joined-up and strategic approach to tackling poverty and homelessness. Stronger alignment between housing supply, homelessness prevention and wider family support can help ensure that housing stability sits at the heart of efforts to support people and communities across Scotland.

“There is a real opportunity now to build momentum behind the commitments made to end homelessness and ensure they are matched by the leadership, investment and long-term action needed to create lasting change. We stand ready to play our part in supporting that work.”

She added:

“If Scotland is serious about ending poverty, it must also be serious about ending homelessness. The two are inseparable, and we are committed to working with government and beyond to help deliver a future where everyone has a safe, secure home.”