Responding to a Scottish Government consultation on possible funding changes, Glasgow and West of Scotland Forum of Housing Associations (GWSF) has repeated its opposition to cuts.

Adaptation works carried out to the homes of older and disabled housing association tenants face major cuts.

GWSF Director Jim Harvey revealed that before this year's Scottish Parliament elections, members of GWSF expressed their principled opposition to housing association tenants being forced to subsidise health-related adaptations needed by their neighbours to live independently and with dignity.

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Mr Harvey stated: "Our members' views on this stay the same, regardless of the size of the cut in funding the Government may bring forward.

"Spending on property adaptations accounts for a tiny percentage of public spending on health and social care services in Scotland, about 0.5% of total spending on these services.

"If the Government is serious about shifting the balance of public spending from crisis interventions to preventative measures, it should abandon short-term cuts to housing adaptations.

"Such changes will simply exacerbate the situation we already have - a postcode and tenure lottery.

"The Scottish Government has made much of its "Social Wage" policy that provides free prescriptions and Council Tax freezes for all households in Scotland, rich and poor alike. It's time to apply the same thinking to how we support vulnerable people who need help to live independently in their own homes, without their neighbours having to foot the bill."

See: www.gwsf.org.uk

(JG/GK)