Questions in the Scottish Parliament - Homelessness (Glasgow)

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to alleviate homelessness in Glasgow. (S5O-02535)

Ending homelessness and rough sleeping is a priority for this Government. We have allocated £23.5 million for rapid rehousing and housing first, to support people who are sleeping rough or living in temporary accommodation into settled accommodation first, then to tailor any support that they need. Up to £6.5 million of that supports our partnership with Social Bite, which is working with the Corra Foundation, Glasgow homelessness Network and partners to deliver housing first pathfinders in five cities, including Glasgow. The homelessness prevention and strategy group is leading work to publish an ending homelessness together action plan by the end of this year.

The cabinet secretary must be all too aware that the Scottish Government has cut the level of funding to groups that tackle homelessness in Glasgow by more than £100,000 since 2007. She must also be aware that Glasgow’s overall budget has been cut massively in real terms since 2007, and I know that she knows that rough sleeping—the most visible evidence of homelessness—has increased significantly in Glasgow. What representation has she made to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Economy, and Fair Work to ensure that he will provide fair funding for Glasgow to allow it to tackle the causes and consequences of homelessness and all that that means for far too many people in communities across Glasgow.

That concludes general questions. Before we turn to First Minister’s questions, members may wish to join me in welcoming to the gallery the Ambassador of the Republic of Austria to the United Kingdom, His Excellency Michael Zimmerman.

The £50 million that we have allocated to end homelessness shows our complete and utter commitment to end homelessness together, as does our work with partners across the third sector and local authorities to make sure that we transform housing policy and eradicate homelessness and prevent the unnecessary consequences that arise as a result of it.

I have regular dialogue and communications with the finance secretary about that, but the member should recognise that £50 million is a significant amount of investment in tackling the issue. We will continue to work hard and deliver on the impacts and the recommendations of the homeless and rough sleeping action group—HARSAG—to make a transformative difference to the people of Glasgow and the people of Scotland.

Source: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=11760&mode=html