Funding of £826 million is to be supplied through the 2019/20 Scottish budget to increase the supply of affordable homes. The funding will be made available through the Affordable Housing Supply Programme and is a £70 million increase on the current year.

Latest statistics show that, since 2007, more than 80,000 affordable homes have been delivered including 54,537 for social rent, 19,553 for affordable home ownership, and 6,014 for affordable rent.

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Communities Secretary Aileen Campbell said: "At the heart of our ambition for a Fairer Scotland is that everyone has access to a safe, warm and affordable place to call home. This increased budget forms part of the single biggest investment in, and delivery of, affordable housing since devolution with over £3 billion committed which will deliver good quality, secure and affordable homes, which will in turn help create strong, sustainable communities.

"We have set an ambitious target to deliver at least 50,000 affordable homes over the course of this Parliament, including 35,000 for social rent and are making good progress towards that. By ensuring councils and housing associations have financial certainty we are confident that this commitment can be fulfilled."