Housing in a Welfare State

Abstract

No universally accepted concept of social justice underlies the provision of housing in the United Kingdom. For the last half century this has led to incrementalist housing policies which have not always been consistent with other welfare policies which have been more comprehensively conceived and applied. Using Scotland as an illustrative case, the practical consequences of social welfare policy in general and deprived areas in particular are described, and the absence of adequate protection for the most vulnerable members of society is noted.