Stewart Maxwell, Scottish Minister for Communities and Sport, is the keynote speaker at the annual conference of Scottish Churches Housing Action in Edinburgh on Friday.

The conference, A Home for All, will set out the role of voluntary sector organisations in providing housing and support for those in need.

Ella Simpson of the Rock Trust in Edinburgh, and Cathy Roarty from Ayrshire & Arran Community Health Partnership will also address the conference.

Rev Leslie Morrison, Chairman of Scottish Churches Housing Action, said, "We invited the minister to tell us how he sees the role of the voluntary sector. It's something that didn't come across in last year's housing consultation, but we believe it's vital.

"The sector does a huge range - from intensive supported accommodation to providing pots and pans to help resettlement of people who have been homeless.

"Yet there are a lot of challenges in the present climate, and we plan to use the conference to show the minister how he can help."

Chief Executive Alastair Cameron added, "Earlier this week, government statistics showed a drop in the numbers applying as homeless to councils. This is good news.

"But it will still be a long haul to the year 2012, when the target is that almost everyone will be entitled to settled housing when they find themselves homeless.

"Voluntary organisations will play a major part in meeting that target - they need to be supported by planners and funders at council and national level."