Shelter said there must be more investment in housing

Shelter Scotland, which claims it is the most common problem raised by constituents, wants 30,000 affordable homes to be built over three years.

However, it said there had been a disconnection between this "bread and butter issue" and political priorities.

Ministers said affordable housing spending had doubled since 2003.

The charity's director, Archie Stoddart, said hundreds of thousands of people in Scotland faced housing problems because they were on waiting lists, had become homeless or could not afford a mortgage.

When we reach the higher stratosphere of politics where does housing rank? Not nearly high enough Archie Stoddart Shelter Scotland

He said politicians were confronted with these problems daily when people came to their surgeries, but housing still failed to become a political priority in funding talks.

Mr Stoddart will open his speech at the third annual Holyrood housing conference in Glasgow with a story about a woman who approached Shelter Scotland for help.

"She became homeless after dealing with a litany of problems, including an abusive husband, postnatal depression and mortgage arrears," he said.

"Along with her three children, she spent nearly two years in temporary accommodation."

Mr Stoddart said every councillor and MSP would have people like her in their surgery week after week.

Spending round

"She is in many ways a remarkable woman. But her story sadly is not remarkable," he said.

"Politicians tell me that housing is the single biggest issue they face at a constituency level.

"Yet when we reach the higher stratosphere of politics where does it rank? Not nearly high enough."

The charity - along with other housing organisations - has called for funding for 30,000 affordable rented homes over the next three years when the next big spending round comes later in 2007.