Homelessness overview
Blog by Zhan McIntyre, SFHA Policy Lead.
Homelessness has been in the spotlight recently, having been the focus of a Local Government and Communities Committee and consequent Scottish Government response.
Local Government and Communities Committee
The Local Government and Communities Committee, led by Bob Doris MSP, undertook an extensive enquiry into the causes, drivers and ways of tackling homelessness. The committee published its report in February 2018.
Looking at issues such as the causes of homelessness, preventing homelessness and the Housing Options approach, gatekeeping and tackling homelessness, the enquiry shone a spotlight on what was described as a “dreadful outcome” arising from a “wide range of issues, including relationship breakdown, substance misuse, mental health issues, childhood trauma as well as welfare reform”.
The committee was emphatic about one thing: homelessness is not a lifestyle choice.
Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Action Group – HARSAG
In October 2017, the Scottish Government convened a working group called HARSAG – made up of a range of stakeholders tasked to come up with an action plan to tackle rough sleeping and homelessness. HARSAG had four questions:
- What can be done to reduce rough sleeping this winter?
- How can we end rough sleeping?
- How can we transform the use of temporary accommodation?
- What needs to be done to end homelessness?
The working group has come up with a number of recommendations, many of which coincide with the recommendations made by the Local Government and Communities Committee.
Homelessness Prevention Strategy Group
The Homelessness Prevention Strategy Group has been reconvened, which has a wide membership, including SFHA. This group is co-convened by Kevin Stewart Housing Minister for Scottish Government and Elena Whitman for COSLA. Please get in touch with me if you wish to discuss this in more detail.
Kevin Stewart has written a blog about the last meeting.
Scottish Government Response to Committee Report
On 17 April, the committee published the response from the Scottish Government. A summary will be made available shortly, but you can access the response here.
Role of housing associations
The social housing sector clearly does a lot to prevent and tackle homelessness, offering tenants and applicants safe, energy efficient affordable homes. Housing associations and co-operatives will be key to any strategy to tackle homelessness going forward, and SFHA is delighted to represent members to shape any strategy and champion the work members already do.
SFHA and GWSF have convened the Homelessness Reference Group to help steer the response and shape discussions about homelessness and RSLs. Please get in touch with if you would like to find out more or get involved.