SCOTLAND's aim to eradicate homelessness by 2012 will be under threat without significant new investment, charities and housing associations are warning.

At tomorrow's "Halfway to 2012" conference in Glasgow, housing groups will ask communities minister Stewart Maxwell to commit to the building of 30,000 affordable homes in the next three years.

Shelter director Archie Stoddart said Scotland was at a critical juncture in attempting to house the entire nation. "We have 200,000 on waiting lists and 8000 in temporary accommodation. We believe the 2012 target is deliverable, but if we're going to meet it we need the money, and that's something we need to sort out now."

Around 75% of all homelessness applications in Scotland are currently assessed as being in "priority need", but legislation requires every applicant to be considered priority by 2012. It is hoped local authorities will phase out tests for allocating homes based on whether families have children or whether the applicant has a local connection.

Yet some members of the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA) are finding it difficult to do so.

Jacqui Watt, chief executive of the SFHA, said: "Without the investment in an affordable housing programme, the problem is only going to get worse."

Watt warned that the housing shortage was creating difficulties in creating socially-mixed communities.

"Increasingly, the only way people can access social housing, is to go through the homelessness route. It is harder for associations to get a good balance between the vulnerable and people who are aspiring to home ownership."

Stoddart remained positive about the way Scotland is trying to tackle homelessness, and said other countries were using the 2012 target as an example for similar programmes. "It is acclaimed across Europe," he said. "It's a very powerful and forward-looking piece of legislation and we should all be proud of it."

Maxwell pledged his support for the target ahead of the meeting, but admitted resources were limited. "I want to make it clear that the new Scottish government is committed to the 2012 target. With a tight spending review coming up, it is clear that there won't be easy answers. But that doesn't mean we should be pessimistic."