What progress has been made implementing the Islands Housing Fund, and which stakeholders, including local authorities and housing associat…

The Islands Housing Fund recognises the unique needs of our island communities. It sits alongside the Rural Housing Fund and was launched in September 2016 using the same guidance which had been developed with the external stakeholder group which helped shape the Rural Housing Fund. The £5 million Islands Housing Fund allocation are specifically for the islands as proposed. Stakeholders including Local Authorities and Housing Associations have been kept up to date with the policy on both the Rural and the Islands Housing Funds. Presentations have been made by the Scottish Government at relevant Rural Housing conferences including the RIHAF conference in October 2016 and Rural Housing Scotland in February 2017. The Stakeholder Group for the development of our Rural Housing Fund consist of a wide range of stakeholders representing the housing sector.