![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Support-journalism-in-article-CTA.png\")
<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n
We have helped deliver more than 140,000 affordable homes in Scotland since 2007, with over 100,000 available for social rent. This means that access to an affordable home in Scotland is proportionality 74% higher than in England and 73% higher than in Wales.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, our Housing Emergency Action Plan commits to investing up to \u00a34.9 billion over the next four years in affordable housebuilding. This will support the delivery of around 36,000 affordable homes by 2029-30 and provide a home for up to 24,000 children.<\/p>\n
This year\u2019s World Homeless Day comes as Scotland marks its annual Challenge Poverty Week<\/a>, which shines a light on the wider injustice of poverty in Scotland and how we can all work together to improve lives.<\/p>\n Eradicating child poverty is at the heart of my government\u2019s policy agenda. An important part of this is investing in joined-up family support so that people can get the help they need, where and when they need it.\u00a0That includes expanding the support available in local communities and making sure services can be accessed easily.<\/p>\n This is backed by our \u00a36.9bn investment in social security support and our game-changing Scottish Child Payment \u2013 worth \u00a327.15 per week for each eligible child under 16 years old.<\/p>\n Policies like these have helped the proportion of Scottish children living in relative poverty to reach its lowest level in nearly a decade, but we know there\u2019s still more work to do. Our commitment to mitigating the UK Government\u2019s two-child limit in Universal Credit from March 2026 will also keep even more money in families\u2019 pockets.<\/p>\n By ensuring all children in Scotland<\/a> have somewhere to call home and helping families to access the support and social security payments they need, we will further reduce the number of children born into poverty and build a brighter future for the next generation.<\/p>\n John Swinney is the leader of the SNP and the first minister of Scotland..<\/strong><\/p>\n Do you have a story to tell or opinions to share about this? Get in touch and tell us more<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Reader-funded since 1991 \u2013 Big Issue brings you trustworthy journalism that drives real change.<\/strong><\/p>\n