A GROUP of 40 organisations fighting homelessness has called for a “critical” ministerial statement on the housing crisis ahead of the Scottish government’s Programme for Government.

The call, led by Homeless Network Scotland, Social Bite and Shelter Scotland, follows Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s pledge to get all homeless people in England off the streets by Christmas.

The coalition wants the statement issued during MSPs’ first week back and has set out five tests to judge Holyrood’s response, including building 15,693 new social homes a year backed by £8.8 billion, making beating homelessness a top priority, and ending the need for anyone in Scotland to sleep rough at any time of year.

Some 10,480 children were in temporary accommodation in Scotland last year.

Homeless Network Scotland chief executive Maggie Brunjes said: “As this new session of the Scottish Parliament now gets properly underway following the election and the summer recess, it is absolutely critical that Scotland now shows similar ambition.

“Homelessness is not inevitable. We know what works, and this is the ideal moment for MSPs to show the public that they grasp the scale of this emergency and are prepared to do what it takes to rise to the occasion.”

A Scottish government spokesperson said it had delivered “well over 100,000 affordable homes for social rent” since 2007, adding: “We are also taking decisive action through our Housing Emergency Action Plan that commits up to £4.9bn over four years to deliver around 36,000 affordable homes across Scotland — giving thousands of children a warm, safe place to live.”