Author: Jamie Milne

Seminar on intersection between violence against women and homelessness

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The Institute for Social Policy, Housing and Equalities Research (I-SPHERE) is hosting a seminar to present new research on the relationship between violence against women and homelessness.

Research Fellow Dr Lynne McMordie will draw on recent qualitative research in Northern Ireland that illustrates how abuse by intimate partners, family members, and strangers can lead to both acute and chronic housing insecurity.

Many women reported being forced from their homes – sometimes fleeing multiple times – even when they held legal tenancy or ownership rights. Systemic failures, including inconsistent police responses, inaccessible or weakly enforced protection orders, and exposure to further violence within homelessness services, further entrenched these cycles of violence and homelessness.

The seminar will take place online on March 26, 2025 from 11:00am-12:15 pm.

Sign up here.

March Network Briefing

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The latest Network Briefing brings news on the work of Fair Way Scotland, Housing First Scotland, and the Everyone Home collective. And you’ll find reports and research from Shelter Scotland, Rock Trust, Scottish Federation of Housing Associations, and more.

Read the briefing

March and April training bulletin

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Since the last training bulletin, we delivered a refreshed equality and human rights course which learners described as “superb” and launched our very first blended rough guide course as flexible eLearning and a live workshop.

We also finished a series of four lectures to trainee doctors and medical students, sharing the stories of people experiencing homelessness and the transformational impact that medical teams can have when they are more human. 

Here is a summary of what is coming up in March and April, perfect for lifelong learners, actioning your annual appraisal or for designing a team training plan.  

What’s new?  

  • Join Clan Childlaw for a short training session about the new law that public authorities need to be compliant with to ensure children’s rights are fully realised. Reserve a ticket for 30 April.  
  • Our brand-new digital learning space is ready for you to explore and perfect for staff, volunteer and board inductions. Get in touch to talk about delivering one of our courses or something bespoke across your organisation.  

 
Upcoming Homeless Network Scotland training dates 

We bring good vibes, a blend of direct and academic evidence, and you bring the questions. Our online training sessions are a great opportunity to network, share examples of good practice and learn from experts.  

  • Homelessness stigma; a conversation 18 March 
  • The unequal risk; an equality and human rights lens on 3 April 
  • Trauma informed approaches; beyond buzzwords to better outcomes 24 April 

Training and events about navigating the immigration system 

Navigating the immigration and housing system is increasingly complex, especially with new immigration rule updates that mean people who arrived seeking safety in the UK via a dangerous journey will normally be refused citizenship. There are lots of helpful events to better understand people’s rights and eligibility to public funds, including housing and homelessness assistance.  

  • Free series of trainings about resisting the hostile environment in public services with Social Workers Without Borders, Migrants Organise and PAFRAS. Running March – July and starting with The Power of Words: Reframing the Migration Narrative on 18 March  
  • Free seminar to celebrate World Social Work Day with the Scottish Association of Social Work about supporting young people seeking asylum in the UK, on 20 March 

Wider training and webinars for the homelessness workforce 

  • Frontline Network run a series of free training for the workforce including suicide awareness and professional resilience 

To suggest a training topic you would like to see on our programme, or to send us details of webinars, learning events or workshops for including in the next training bulletin, please email laura@homelessnetwork.scot 

Ending destitution: a road map for policy makers

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A new legal briefing sets out steps the Scottish Government and local authorities can take now to mitigate the harm caused to people in Scotland by UK immigration policy.

Ending Destitution in Scotland: A Road Map for Policymakers was commissioned by the Institute for Social Policy, Housing and Equalities Research (I-SPHERE) and Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) through their role in Fair Way Scotland, a partnership working to prevent homelessness and destitution among people with No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF).

The briefing by Jen Ang, for legal and strategic consultancy Lawmanity, follows the latest Fair Way Scotland evaluation report Destitution by Design, which sets out the terrible impact of the UK immigration system on people who come to Scotland to work, study, join family or seek safety.

This legal route-map argues that Scottish Government and local authorities can take positive steps to end this situation across seven areas that deliver essential support to people: social security and financial support, housing, transport, health and social care, education, work, justice and legal aid.

It challenges presumptions that reserved immigration law prevents specific groups from accessing support that would mitigate the harm they suffer at present, by presenting workable solutions that national and local government could pursue to achieve immediate positive change.

More broadly, the briefing recommends that decision makers in Scotland can fulfil their commitment to ending homelessness and destitution by reviewing and if necessary redesigning devolved policy, working with the UK Government to define ‘public funds’, improving frontline practice, and establishing parallel systems of support.

Read the briefing

Commitment to housing rights by Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP

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The Everyone Home collective and All in for Change wrote to Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice Shirley-Anne Somerville at the end of last year asking for a commitment to preserving our housing rights.

These protections have been built up over 25 years of devolution but are under threat because of the housing emergency. But this crisis is not, and never can be, an excuse or cover to water down people’s rights.

The right to a safe home is not something just for times that are easy. It is when times are tough, when councils need to decide between one priority or another, that rights come into their own.

The Cabinet Secretary has now responded to the collective and the Change Team with a letter committing to our rights. 

Ms Somerville says: “They are key elements of Scotland’s strong rights for renters and homeless households and part of the protections in place to ensure homes are safe and suitable.

“I am clear that changing or suspending their application would risk regression and expose people to unsafe or unsuitable accommodation.

“As I mentioned in my previous letter, I am very proud of the rights that exist in Scotland for people experiencing homelessness and I can therefore assure you that I do not intend to pursue any changes to legislation.”

➡ Read a comment piece on why we must go forward, not back on housing rights.