Scotland goes to the polls on 7th May 2026, and for the young people we work with, this election matters.
We published our manifesto, The Way Forward for Scotland’s Young People, in January 2026, setting out four asks for the next Scottish Government.
- Homes for every young person
- Act early to prevent homelessness
- Supported transitions for care leavers
- Jobs and education for young people
Below, we’ve assessed how the manifestos for SNP, Scottish Labour, Scottish Conservatives, Scottish Greens, Scottish Liberal Democrats and Reform UK to find out how each party plans to respond to those asks, and where the gaps remain.
This analysis is factual and does not represent an endorsement of any political party or candidate. Rock Trust is a registered Scottish charity and is politically neutral.
Holyrood 2026
Written by
The Context
Over 7,500 young people were threatened with or experienced homelessness in Scotland last year: the highest rate of any age group. And yet, when you read the manifestos from all six major parties standing in this election, one thing stands out: young people are largely invisible in their housing and homelessness commitments.
With the partial exception of the Scottish Liberal Democrats’ commitment to a Young Homeless Guarantee, no party has made a specific commitment to youth-specific housing or homelessness prevention. Housing targets, prevention funds and homelessness strategies appear in most manifestos, but there is a striking lack of specific, funded commitments to tackling youth homelessness as a distinct problem requiring a distinct response.
That gap matters. Because youth homelessness is not simply adult homelessness happening to younger people. Young people are doubly disadvantaged: they’re more likely to be on lower, less secure income, and they’re less able to access deposits and references.
One size fits all housing policies simply can’t meet their needs. Only youth-specific solutions can.
That’s what we’re calling for. That’s what is currently missing. And that’s what we’ll be pressing the next Scottish Government to deliver, whoever forms it.
Ask One: Homes for all young people
We’re asking the next government to fund youth-specific housing models, require every Local Authority to have a young people’s housing strategy, and build 15,693 new social homes every year.
What each party commits to:
SNP – £4.9bn affordable housing investment; 110,000 affordable homes by 2032 (70% social rent); new national housing agency; £50m Homelessness Prevention Fund; commitment to end “unsafe and harmful” temporary accommodation for children.
Scottish Labour – 125,000 new homes by 2031 including 52,300 affordable homes within overall target; establish an Ending Homelessness Unit; target to end homelessness by 2040; improved support for Housing First schemes.
Scottish Greens – 15,700 new social homes each year; statutory target to end homelessness by 2040; Housing First approach to be fully funded; right to housing included in a new Human Rights Bill
Scottish Liberal Democrats – 25,000 new homes per year on average; Young Homeless Guarantee with specialist pathways for young people.
Scottish Conservatives – Focus on planning deregulation to increase housing supply; redirect net zero budget towards housing spend; implement ‘Ask and Act’ homelessness prevention scheme; Brownfield Development Fund.
Reform UK – Commits to 15,000 affordable homes per year; long-term pension fund model to pay for social housing; Rent-to-Buy model for young people and first-time buyers.
Ask Two: Act early to prevent homelessness
We’re asking for the next government to invest in prevention models that work, including in-school support services, whole-family support and youth work services.
What the parties commits to:
SNP – Funding for ‘Whole Family Support’ to tackle child poverty; Scottish Welfare Fund retained; £20m a year to ensure counselling is available in every school; £50m Homelessness Prevention Fund covering early intervention.
Scottish Labour – Prioritise prevention through delivery of Scottish Welfare Fund; new preventative model for youth work; family support hubs in primary schools; statutory new deal for third sector with multi-year funding to reduce inequality and poverty.
Scottish Greens – Deliver new National Youth Work Strategy; youth work integrated into secondary education and mental health referral systems; income maximisation advisers in schools; introduce statutory homelessness strategies for all groups facing barriers to housing.
Scottish Liberal Democrats – Introduce Youth Work Bill to enact a legal entitlement to youth work for 11–25s; national and local youth youth work strategies; prevention-first approach for those at risk.
Scottish Conservatives – Commit to publication of National Youth Work Strategy; youth work groups given free access to public buildings; school-college partnerships for disengaged young people.
Reform UK – First Job Passport for school leavers; no specific youth homelessness prevention commitments identified.
Ask Three: Supported transitions for care leavers
We’re asking for guaranteed transition plans and housing for all care-experienced young people, with dedicated aftercare support until age 26.
What the parties commits to:
SNP – Commitment to enact legislation already passed guaranteeing aftercare support to age 26; £2,000 Care Leaver Payment; dedicated aftercare worker commitment; Promise delivery by 2030.
Scottish Labour – Continuing work to deliver The Promise; end the role of profit in care for children; mentoring programmes for care-experienced young people.
Scottish Greens – Roll out basic income pilot specifically for care leavers; complete The Promise by 2030; develop statutory action plans for groups most at risk of homelessness.
Scottish Liberal Democrats – Public sector traineeship for everyone at the point of leaving care; comprehensive roadmap for The Promise implementation; call on UK Government to make care experience to a protected characteristic under the Equality Act.
Scottish Conservatives – Commitment to deliver remaining Independent Care Review recommendations.
Reform UK – No specific commitments included.
Ask Four: Training & employment for young people
We’re asking for the next government to deliver meaningful work, education and training opportunities for young people, including funded career mentoring in areas of high youth unemployment and the Real Living Wage for all young workers regardless of age.
What the parties commits to:
SNP – 150,000 additional apprenticeships over the parliament; Apprenticeship Accelerator Grant; First Minister’s Start-Up Challenge for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds; new scheme to support disabled young people into public sector apprenticeships.
Scottish Labour – Apprenticeship guarantee with 9,000 new places for every qualified applicant; Taster Apprenticeships; expanded Graduate Apprenticeships; establish Skills Board.
Scottish Greens – Real Living Wage for all workers; no age caps on apprenticeships; funded childcare hours for modern apprentices; New Deal for Apprenticeships
Scottish Liberal Democrats – Apprenticeship funding reformed to remove barriers for young people; public sector traineeship for all care leavers; Job Transition Loans up to £5,000.
Scottish Conservatives – Demand-led apprenticeship model using ring-fenced Apprenticeship Levy funding; new Skills Bill; apprenticeships open to all ages; increased college funding.
Reform UK – Apprenticeship Levy fully ring-fenced for apprenticeships; First Job Passport for every school leaver; Youth Entrepreneur Scheme.
Get in touch
For questions about our policy work or to find out how to get involved, contact our Policy and Public Affairs Officer Lara Balkwill.