The expansion of the Unsuitable Accommodation Order and the transition to Rapid Rehousing and Housing First are both drivers for the sector to redefine the role of supported housing and shared living as a response to homelessness in Scotland. Homeless Network Scotland commissioned and co-funded, with additional funding from Action for Children, Crisis and Turning Point Scotland, a qualitative research project led by Anna Evans at Indigo House which will seek to better understand:
- In what circumstances, if any, is shared or supported accommodation the appropriate housing option for households experiencing homelessness?
- What should the shared and supported accommodation options required in these circumstances look like?
- What is the likely scale of such shared and supported accommodation options likely to be in the future?
- How well placed are local authorities and service providers to adopt these housing options at the scale required?
The early themes emerging from the research are already interesting and in 2021 a national conversation, culminating in an annual conference in the Autumn, will be launched to interact with and hear from as many people as possible across the homelessness, housing, justice, health and social care sectors. So please watch out for the launch and participate in the national conversation as much as you can.