There’s the challenge of an ageing population and making sure the homes we have are right for older citizens. There’s the need to protect fragile rural communities by ensuring there’s a mix of housing provision. Making our homes more energy efficient; improving private renting; supporting better neighbourhoods – all important priorities. But underlying that mix is a stark fact. We need more homes. Affordable homes at that. In which people can have the security of knowing they have somewhere to call home, which is within their means. This report shows just how much current policy is lagging behind that need. Scotland needs at least 12,000 affordable homes a year for the next five years. Current programmes, at best, provide only half of that. And it is a longstanding failing as well, spanning governments of different hue. Scotland needs 12,000 affordable homes because the market alone cannot do the job. Those homes can vary as to whose needs they meet. While there is a compelling case for the bedrock of that programme to be socially rented homes.