Our VP Welfare, Jordan led a group of Edinburgh College students in the protest outside of Holyrood for the issues facing student housing. The Student Housing Rally was hosted by NUS Scotland on 23 March as a result of their report Broke: How Scotland is failing its students

Some of the issues NUS Scotland are fighting for include:

  • Rent controls – the cost of rent is rising and often exceeds the amount of financial support students get through student support and bursaries. We need controls to make and keep housing affordable
  • Rights as tenants – we shouldn’t have fewer rights than other members of society. We need the right to leave contracts and protection from evictions
  • Accessible and adaptable housing – so that all students are safe and secure in their housing, regardless of our personal circumstances
  • Recording Student homelessness - students can't currently access the same support for homelessness to help them access emergency or temporary accommodation, but this isn't recorded by government

 

 

We are demanding that the Scottish Government step up and take the actions needed to support the students of Scotland.

In attendance and speaking was 5 MSPs representing each party: 

  • Patrick Harvie, Scottish Green Party

  • Michael Marra, Scottish Labour Party

  • Pam Gosal, Conservative and Unionist Party 

  • Willie Rennie, Scottish Liberal Democrats

  • Paul McLennan, SNP 

They all spoke about housing and how stories of students living in horrible conditions aren’t unique, living in mouldy flat with leaks and with landlords unwilling to fix conditions and landlords rinsing you for your deposit. 

Patrick Harvie MSP: I am committed to delivering the effective rent controls you're demanding, and your urgency on this is completely justified.

Pam Gosal MSP : I learnt a lot about the struggles students are facing and I am eager to work cross-party to support students' needs and deal with this crisis.

 

Our officers work very hard to raise any issues that students face, to support their college journey. Jordan, VP Welfare is currently working on a project with Cyrenians, a homeless charity in Scotland which will aim at creating a new support program specifically designed for students. At the moment the project as the research stage which will lead to finding solutions for many issues that students face. Stay tuned for how to engage further in this project.