To register for a place and find out more information about the courses follow these links:
Anyone who wants to vote in the election must ensure they register by midnight on Monday on 19 April. People who don’t have a settled address or are experiencing homelessness can register to vote.
The Electoral Commission’s guidance for professionals who work with people experiencing homelessness is available to download here. This was developed with support from the Everyone Home Collective.
If you have any questions after reading the guide you can contact your local Electoral Registration Office. You can find their details by entering the postcode for the address which the person you are supporting would like to register at here.
If you would like to raise awareness about voting in the election, you can download digital and print resources from the Electoral Commission here.
Booking is now open for ‘Branching Out’ the 2021 Housing First Scotland conference, an essential online event in partnership with the Wheatley Group to shape the next steps and launch the National Framework for Housing First.
Mark 23-24 March in your diary and view the 2-day programme and speakers by clicking here. You can also get in touch about the sponsorship and other opportunities we still have available by emailing hello@homelessnetwork.scot
There will be opportunities to hear directly from those responsible for Scottish Government homelessness policy, as well as sector leaders from health, housing and homelessness organisations across a day-and-a-half of activities and interactive sessions.
This is a pivotal year in the transition of Housing First towards becoming the default and rapid response for people whose homelessness is made much harder by experiences such as trauma and addictions. From pilots to Pathfinder, and now branching out across Scotland, the national challenge is to keep growing, while learning and improving as we go.
With three themes across two days, you will hear personal testimony, conversations, keynotes, lively panel discussions, sharing of data and knowledge, and, as always, the opportunity to get involved.
View the 2-day programme and speakers by clicking here.
Book a place at one, or all, of the sessions by clicking here.
The first data on Scotland’s Housing First Pathfinder since the start of the year indicates the programme continued to scale up despite Covid restrictions. The total tenancies created by Scotland’s Housing First Pathfinder up to 31 December 2020 was 404, with an additional 22 added that month.
The key indicator of ‘tenancy sustainment’, which shows how many people kept their tenancy, remains high over the full first year of the Pathfinder, this month showing 88 per cent. This compares favourably to USA and European examples.
Housing First provides ordinary housing as a first step rather than at the end of a process that often fails to prevent or end homelessness. It includes a support package tailored to the individual and is proven to be a better and more lasting response for people with experiences such as trauma, abuse, addictions and mental ill health who experience homelessness.
Returns for December show that Glasgow, the city with the highest number of homelessness applications in Scotland, hit the significant 150 tenancies milestone. Aberdeen / Aberdeenshire stands at 80, with the highest percentage of people remaining in their home at 93 per cent. In Dundee, the number of tenancies is 64, more than half their target; Edinburgh has 92 and Stirling 11, over halfway towards its target of 20.
Sir Andrew Cubie, Chair of the Housing First Scotland Advisory Group, said:
“This hugely significant milestone is wonderful news, coming as it does after such a challenging year. Through continued successful partnerships across the Pathfinder areas, and in defiance of the virus and its impact on normal life, more than 400 people have now moved into a safe, secure home of their own.
“The excellent support that is in place has resulted in a high number remaining in their home, and still no evictions have taken place from tenancies created through the programme. As Housing First takes root in local authority areas across Scotland the learning and experience accrued by Pathfinder areas will, I believe, prove immensely important in the months and years ahead.”
Doug Gibson, Programme Manager for the Housing First Pathfinder at Homeless Network Scotland, said:
“Local consortia across the Pathfinder continue to offer Housing First support to people under incredibly difficult circumstances. Sometimes this is delivered remotely, other times by socially distanced meeting outdoors, but the importance of remaining ‘alongside’ tenants is uppermost in the minds of support workers and the teams providing services and advice. As Housing First rolls out across Scotland this year, people with the toughest experiences who have yet to move out of homelessness know there is a resilient, sustainable way forward that lets people build and live their lives in a home of their own.”
*Applications are now closed.*
From today (Wednesday 20 January 2021) Homeless Network Scotland will be distributing a £50,000 Scottish Government emergency fund offering one-off cash payments of £50 for people who are homeless and living in temporary accommodation in Scotland.
People can apply directly, or support or advice workers can nominate for the ‘Winter Warmer’ payment on a first-come first-served basis by visiting https://homelessnetwork.scot/winter-warmer/.
Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning Kevin Stewart MSP, said: “I am pleased we have been able to fund Homeless Network Scotland’s Winter Warmer project. This funding will be used to help people with essentials, or just something extra, and is part of our £100 million winter support package, to support people with the additional financial pressures of the COVID-19 pandemic, EU Exit and winter. We have also provided over £5 million for those at risk of or experiencing homelessness to accelerate rapid rehousing plans.”
A growing body of evidence supports direct cash transfers as an effective way of targeting support in a way that retains people’s choice and control. This is the second round of cash support from Scottish Government for people affected by homelessness since the start of the pandemic. In the spring of 2020 Homeless Network Scotland applied successfully for a grant of £100k provided as part of the Scottish Government’s initial emergency response to the pandemic, managed by SCVO and the Hunter Foundation. By June, over 1000 payments of £100 had been made.
Maggie Brünjes, Chief executive at Homeless Network Scotland, said: “We know that the pandemic has meant a longer stay in temporary accommodation for many, and we want this money to reach people who could do with it as quickly as possible. It won’t remove the most pressing problem, or reach everyone, but we hope it can ease some immediate pressure during the winter months. Our thanks to Scottish Government for enabling this considerate and effective approach.”
Apply directly, or for someone you support, here https://homelessnetwork.scot/winter-warmer/.
For general enquiries email hello@homelessnetwork.scot
Media enquiries, contact Martin Gavin, Head of External Relations at Homeless Network Scotland mgavin@homelessnetwork.scot