Celebrities support homeless move

Shelter Scotland wants the public to define what home means to them

Celebrities are supporting a housing charity's campaign to highlight the importance of providing everyone in Scotland with a home.

Designers Colin McAllister and Justin Ryan have praised Shelter Scotland's drive to hold ministers to their promise of ending homelessness by 2012.

The charity wants the public to use its website to say what home means to them and hopes for at least 5,000 responses.

Colin and Justin said having a home should not depend on financial clout.

The home decorating experts, who now have a show on BBC Radio Scotland, have signed up to Shelter Scotland's campaign, 'home is...' along with other celebrities including Edith Bowman, Sharleen Spiteri, Sir Alex Ferguson, Gail Porter and Christopher Brookmyre.

The celebrities' thoughts on what constitutes a home can be viewed on Shelter Scotland's website.

We bought it in Birmingham five years ago, it reminds me of being a kid Colin McAllister

The charity said it hoped for a positive public response to its awareness campaign and that it would help remind politicians of the importance of having a home.

Colin and Justin said: "Home is a place where you can grow things, where you grow your personality, where you grow your children and where you can grow your relationship.

"Your home is a fantastic personal box where you can be who you want to be without having to meet anyone's expectations."

'Person in need'

The designers said the Scottish Executive's legislation on homelessness was geared towards giving everyone the same opportunities.

"Having a right to a home shouldn't depend on your financial situation, your family situation, or your sex, it should be about the fact you're a person in need," they said.

"Having a home is something that people take for granted, but unfortunately it's not something that everyone is granted."

The celebrities said one of the things that depicted their home was a Dalek model.

Colin said: "We bought it in Birmingham five years ago, it reminds me of being a kid.

"You want to have things in your life that make you smile and this is one of those things."

Pressure on politicians

Sir Alex Ferguson said home for him was where he felt safe, surrounded by his family and a feeling of security.

Edith Bowman said: "Home to me means safety, security and love. A place where you can be yourself, the most relaxed and comfortable."

Archie Stoddart, director of Shelter Scotland, urged the public to log onto its website to give their views on what home means to them.

"Is it the sense of warmth, or security, or your bed on a Saturday morning?" he asked.

"Let us know and help us keep the pressure on Scotland's politicians to keep their promise that everyone in Scotland should have a home by 2012.

"We're the fourth-richest country in the world - nobody should have to be homeless or living in bad housing."