Brexit ‘will hit Scottish housing association tenants hardest’

The body representing Scottish housing associations said it was extremely concerned at the findings of a new report that claims Brexit will hit the country’s most vulnerable people hardest.

Sally Thomas, chief executive of the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA), said the report, Social and Equality Impacts of Brexit, spelled out how its members’ tenants could face further hardships as a result of Brexit, whether the UK leaves the EU with no deal or a softer departure.

“The findings in this report are extremely concerning,” Thomas said. “Housing associations and co-operatives’ tenants are already often on lower incomes, and the Scottish government’s report has found that they could face further hardships, such as rising fuel and food prices, as a result of Brexit.

“For this reason, we are asking the Scottish government to deliver measures that will protect the poorest and most vulnerable people.”

The report, written by Dr Eve Hepburn of consultancy Policyscribe, said Brexit would have a greater impact on the communities that had the least power and privilege in society, “those who already face barriers to inclusion, as well as disadvantage, hardship and discrimination,” she said.

“These groups – which we will include under the term ‘equalities groups’ due to the fact they face inequality in society – will likely be disproportionately affected by Brexit, which may adversely affect their social, economic and civic rights,” she continued.

The SFHA said it would ask the Scottish government “to provide funding for partnerships between housing associations and support organisations to ensure wraparound advice and support, such as financial inclusion and welfare rights services, for tenants, especially those on the lowest incomes and those with care and support needs”.