A fund for pilot projects to help people to stay in their homes
has been launched by Housing Secretary Màiri McAllan.
Managed by Advice Direct Scotland, the £4 million fund will
support organisations to pilot new 'ask and act' measures. These
duties, as part of the Housing (Scotland) Bill currently being
considered by the Scottish Parliament, will require bodies such
as health boards, the police and prison service to take
reasonable steps to prevent homelessness.
This Programme for Government commitment builds on an existing
Scottish Government investment of £1 million from the
homelessness prevention fund.
During her visit to West Granton Housing Co-operative in
Edinburgh Ms McAllan found out more about their ‘Get Settled'
project which supports 400 households who are homeless, or facing
homelessness, across Edinburgh, Midlothian, East Lothian and
Fife.
Housing Secretary Màiri McAllan said:
“We are determined to end homelessness – and the best way to do
this is to prevent homelessness in the first place. This
investment in prevention pilots will help us test and scale up
innovative approaches to help people stay in their homes.
“By taking action to prevent homelessness and reduce demand on
the homelessness system, we can help ease the housing emergency.
“Projects such as West Granton Housing Co-operative's ‘Get
Settled' demonstrates how targeted support can transform lives by
not only helping people to find a home but supporting them to
settle into their communities.
“By working with housing associations, registered social
landlords and other third sector partners we are building the
foundations for legislation in the forthcoming Housing Bill to
help prevent homelessness.”
Chief executive of Advice Direct Scotland Andrew Bartlett said:
“Advice Direct Scotland is proud to be at the centre of such a
landmark moment for homelessness prevention. The new ‘ask and
act' provisions shift the focus from crisis intervention towards
proactive prevention which could save many people from enduring
the trauma of homelessness.
“We look forward to working with organisations across sectors in
Scotland to help people at risk of homelessness.”
Maeve McGoldrick, head of policy and communications for Crisis
Scotland, said:
“Far too many people in Scotland are being forced to experience
the trauma and indignity of homelessness in circumstances where,
with the right help, it could have been prevented.
“These new legal duties, requiring public services to ask people
at risk of homelessness about their housing situation, then act
to offer support if needed, will help change that.
“But these plans are a world-first, and for the changes to be
effective it's vital we test out how they will work in practice,
before the new protections are rolled out across the country. By
running a series of pilots on the new homelessness prevention
duties we can make sure those working in health, justice,
education and beyond are fully prepared to play a greater role in
ending homelessness in Scotland."
Notes to Editors
‘Ask and Act' – advice.scot
The West Granton Housing Co-operative administers £260,000 in
grant funding for Get Settled ARCHIE services via seven housing
associations who are members of the Alliance of Registered
Co-operatives and Housing Associations, Independent in Edinburgh
(ARCHIE).
