Private problems are disorders that negatively affect individuals and their immediate environment. When these problems go beyond the individual's personal environment and impact the community, they become public problems (Bogue, 2009). One of the most common private problems that has become a critical public problem appears to be the scarcity of social housing. According to the Scottish Government [TSG] (2013), as of 31 March 2013, there were 184,487 households on local authority waiting lists in Scotland. The lack of available social housing is mainly due to the steady decline in stock each year since 1980, after tenants purchased almost half a million social homes under the Right to Buy scheme. This adds to the decline in house building; which is currently at its lowest level since 1946, has caused a shameful lack of affordable public housing (Turffrey, 2010). The slowdown in social housing alternatives and the fact that homeownership is becoming increasingly unaffordable for many first-time buyers. the private sector. Inside Letting (2012) reports that private renting has more than doubled its share of total housing stock in Scotland since 1999. It is now the most expensive form of housing, with the average annual private rent costing £8,244; compared to Scottish local authority annual rent which averages just £3,064. (Easton, 2013: Urquhart, 2013). Low-income households who cannot afford this large increase in rent can apply for a housing benefit to make up the shortfall. Housing benefits paid to private landlords to compensate for inflated rents account for almost 95% of the UK's total housing spending, with just 5% of funds invested in housebuilding (UN...... mid document ......t: How the lack of affordable housing impacts all aspects of life [PDF] Available from the website Shelter.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/268752. /The_Human_Cost.pdf• ​​​​UNISON Scotland - Housing Policy June 2013 [PDF] Available on the UNISON Scotland website www.unison-scotland.org.uk/housing/MakingHomesForAFairerScotland_June2013.pdf• ​​​​Urquhart, F. (2013) Average rent in Aberdeen exceeds £1,000 per month [webpage] Available from UNISON Scotland website www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/homes-gardens/property-; news/aberdeen-rent-average-soars-past-1-000-a-month-1-3144329 [accessed 14 January 2014]• West College Scotland [WCS] (2010).Government influences, financing and the mixed economy of care [PDF] Available on the West College Scotland Moodle site, Education Care and Sciences, Health and Social Care; moodle2.reidkerr.ac.uk/mod/resource/view.php?id=9566