Wed Sep 18 15:50:00 UTC 2024: ## South Lanarkshire Receives £1.7 Million for Affordable Housing, But Council Says it’s Not Enough
South Lanarkshire Council will receive £1.7 million in funding from the Scottish Government to bolster the area’s affordable housing stock. This comes as the council faces significant pressure to provide temporary accommodation, ranking among the top five in Scotland for housing needs.
The funding, part of a £40 million nationwide initiative, will be used to purchase existing properties and bring vacant homes back into use. While the council welcomes the extra funding, they express disappointment with the allocation, stating that the £1.7 million is over £5 million less than originally anticipated.
South Lanarkshire declared a housing emergency in June, highlighting a doubling of urgent need households seeking accommodation and a significant increase in homelessness figures. The council has already been actively purchasing properties through a market scheme, acquiring 165 homes last year.
The Scottish Government maintains that the funding will help reduce the number of families in temporary accommodation and address homelessness. However, the council emphasizes the ongoing pressures and the need for further investment to adequately address the housing crisis.
The largest allocations from the £40 million fund are going to Edinburgh, Glasgow, West Lothian, and Fife, with South Lanarkshire receiving the fifth-largest share. Neighboring North Lanarkshire will receive £673,000.
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