Edinburgh action plan ‘doesn’t go far enough’

A new plan aimed at reducing homelessness in Edinburgh “does not go far enough,” councillors have been warned.

Tenants’ union Living Rent welcomed the council’s formal declaration of a housing emergency but said most of the actions put forward in response “have already been proposed prior to the declaration”.

The action plan, agreed at the housing committee on Tuesday, February 27, includes reviewing the council house allocation system, reducing the number of empty homes and improving the relationship between housing officers and tenants.

It’s hoped the measures will result in 500 fewer households classed as homeless and living in temporary accommodation, of which there are currently around 5,000 in the capital, by March 2025.

A target has also been set to bring 629 ‘void’ council-owned homes back into use in the next 12 months, which would almost halve the 1,279 currently sitting empty across the city.

Housing convener Jane Meagher told the Local Democracy Reporting Service it was “a fair point to say some of the measures were already being undertaken”.

However she said the plan was “a work in progress”.

Boasting 76 different ‘projects’ she said it presented a more “comprehensive and cohesive” approach.

“It also gives it a turbocharge, having this approach where it’s up-front, accountable and it’s driving forward,” Cllr Meagher added.

Addressing the housing committee, Living Rent member Elise Corry said: “Whilst all the actions within the plan are welcome, from our understanding a majority of these actions have already been proposed prior to the declaration of the housing emergency.”

"We need this housing emergency action plan to go further, to be more ambitious and to truly change the landscape,” she added.

“We need this housing emergency action plan to go further, to be more ambitious and to truly change the landscape