Following new recommendations from the reconvened Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Action Group (HARSAG) over the summer the Scottish Government has today (8 October 2020) published an updated Ending Homelessness Together Action Plan. The plan was first published in November 2018, drawing on recommendations from the original HARSAG.
In one proposal, Scotland’s night shelters, in Edinburgh and Glasgow, will be transformed into Covid-secure rapid rehousing welcome centres for people who would otherwise be sleeping rough this winter.
Maggie Brünjes, Chief Executive at Homeless Network Scotland, said:
“Home has never been so important – home saves lives. It is right that the Scottish Government has published this enhanced action plan based on everything we now know.
“This was an already ambitious plan, now going further, while holding firm to the guiding principles of prevention and rapid rehousing. Among the changes, dormitory style winter night shelters will not feature in our response to homelessness in Scotland this year.
“The night shelter providers, Glasgow City Mission and Bethany Christian Trust in Edinburgh, have worked closely with the two city councils and the Scottish Government to provide self-contained, en-suite rooms with rapid links to housing, welfare and support services. These Rapid Rehousing Welcome Centres will transform the rough sleeping safety net and I want to thank our third sector and local authority colleagues for such a progressive achievement.”