COWDENBEATH MSP Annabelle Ewing has welcomed funding aimed at helping tackle the housing crisis.

The Scottish Government has announced it will provide £80m over the next two years to help boost the affordable housing supply and tackle homelessness cross the country.

Ms Ewing said it was an "important" cash injection.

"It brings the Affordable Housing Supply Programme budget up to nearly £600 million for 2024-2025 and underlines the SNP Government’s commitment to delivering policies that address the serious problem of homelessness," he said.

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“Providing good quality, affordable housing is at the very core of the Scottish Government’s ambitions to efforts to tackle child poverty and reduce inequality and supporting the purchase of properties that can be brought into use for affordable housing is a tangible example of the good work that the SNP is doing to make Scotland a better place for everyone who lives here.”

Announcing the funding, First Minister Humza Yousaf said: “Housing is essential in our efforts to tackle child poverty and reduce inequality across Scotland, and it supports jobs and growth in the economy.

“Providing good quality, affordable housing is at the very core of what my Government is doing to make Scotland a better place.

“While there is a single person homeless in our country, it is simply not acceptable to have houses sitting empty – so I am determined that we remove the barriers and provide the money that will enable councils to buy properties so they can become affordable homes again.

“This £80 million will build on the success of our national acquisition programme which I announced last year, which spent more than £60 million and delivered more than 1,000 affordable homes.

“This is one of a number of actions we are prioritising to help to reduce the number of households in temporary accommodation.

“We will also accelerate discussion with (councils body) Cosla in relation to the number of empty council homes.”