The sum of £750 million has been advanced by leading housing organisations as the figure Scotland needs to create more affordable homes.

The coalition, which includes Shelter Scotland, the Chartered Institute of Housing, the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA) and the Scottish Council for Single Homeless (SCSH), challenged the Scottish Government to tackle the growing housing problem.

The joint paper makes the case for funding to provide at least 30,000 affordable rented homes over the next three years. The policy hopes to become part of the assembly’s £90 billion spending plans for the next three years.

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The document commends the executive's plans to tackle homelessness in Scotland saying: "Housing must be available to people who might otherwise lose or abandon their tenancy. Prevention will have an important role in meeting the 2012 homelessness target."

Stewart Maxwell, Minister for communities and sport said: "With a tight spending review likely, it is clear that there won't be easy answers - no government can simply turn on housing supply like a tap.

"But I think with the right will on the part of all the relevant partners - including local authorities, housing providers and the construction industry - it will be possible to make more housing, of all types, a reality."

(DW/JM)