Charity Presents Minister With Over 5,000 Quotes

Nine months after launching its home is… campaign, Shelter Scotland has illustrated to Minister for Communities Rhona Brankin how important home is to the people of Scotland.

The housing and homelessness charity presented Ms Brankin with a booklet of over 5,000 home is… quotes for her to keep. The handover came when the charity took its new ‘home is… house’ – which features some of the home is… quotes – to the Minister to illustrate its campaign.

The housing and homelessness charity is delighted to have exceeded its 5000-quote target, collecting 5,200 so far – and to have had the opportunity to present the quotes to Ms Brankin, who added to the total by telling the charity what home means to her.

Speaking at the handover, Archie Stoddart, director of Shelter Scotland, said: “We launched the home is… campaign so we could show all politicians why having a home is important to people, and ensure they stick to their promise that everyone has a home by 2012.

“We’ve been astonished by the thousands of thoughtful and emotive responses we have had, which confirms to us that having a home is a keystone to everyone’s lives. It’s something that many people recognise they would miss if it wasn’t there. No-one should be without a home.

“We are obviously delighted the Minister for Communities Rhona Brankin could have been here today to accept the home is… quotes – and we hope she enjoys reading what home means to people.”

He added: “We cannot ignore the voices of Scotland’s people. Everyone must continue to work together to achieve the 2012 homelessness target, which has received so much international attention in recent weeks. We’re nearly half way there now since the laws were first introduced and no-one can afford to lose sight of the end goal of ensuring everyone has the right to a home.”

Communities Minister Rhona Brankin said: “Housing is a basic right and one the Executive is committed to delivering for everyone in Scotland. Shelter Scotland’s home is… campaign has captured the very sentiments behind Scotland’s landmark homelessness legislation and no one should doubt Scottish Ministers’ determination to meet the 2012 pledge. I welcome this opportunity to read the home is… quotes of people from across Scotland and to add my own.”

Shelter Scotland kicked off the home is… campaign in May 2006, with backing from Colin and Justin, and celebrities from the world of football, literature and TV, including Edith Bowman, Sharleen Spiteri, Sir Alex Ferguson, Gail Porter, and Christopher Brookmyre.