A Scottish Parliament debate will highlight how people living in Scotland are experiencing severe destitution and homelessness because they have limited or no access to welfare support or housing.
MSPs will also hear about the practical steps that could be taken by local and national policymakers to address and reduce the harm people are suffering, set out in a new legal briefing.
Ending Destitution in Scotland – a Road Map for Policymakers, recommends action across seven areas including work, social security, education, and health and social care.
The Members Business Debate in parliament on Wednesday, 26 March will focus on a motion lodged by Scottish Greens MSP Maggie Chapman.
The motion notes the recent publication of the legal briefing by Lawmanity’s Professor Jen Ang, who was commissioned by Heriot-Watt’s I-SPHERE institute and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF).
This briefing sets out a series of practical actions that Scottish Government and local authorities can now take, all within devolved competence, to end destitution. These cover a range of areas such as access to social security, to transport, to education and to health services.
Fair Way Scotland – a 3rd sector partnership that provides a lifeline to people experiencing destitution who have No Recourse to Public Funds or Restricted Eligibility for support – urges policy makers to include these actions in the next stage of the Ending Destitution Strategy.
Professor Ang’s briefing followed the Destitution by Design report produced by I-SPHERE and funded by JRF, which set out the severe damage caused to people in Scotland from lack of access to supports due to the hostile immigration system.
Researchers found that 93% of people supported by Fair Way were experiencing homelessness while 97% were destitute. Skipping meals and relying on charity for daily basics was common.
Average incomes were exceptionally low at just under £40 per week and a third reported no income at all in the last month. Two-thirds were not allowed to work.
Survey respondents reported poorer physical health, mental health and mental wellbeing than the general population and other disadvantaged groups.
The report also provided harrowing real life case studies of people whose traumatic experiences included being forced to sleep rough or walk the streets at night, experiences of violence and extreme poverty.
The report made a series of recommendations for local authorities and the Scottish and UK Governments to address the situation.
A key recommendation was for Scottish Government to exercise powers in devolved areas to the fullest extent possible to ensure everyone has full access to health, social care, education, social security, transport and housing.