Author: Janice Higgins

Conference: Housing First is ‘Here to Stay’

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Taking place in person once again after two years online, the annual Housing First Conference on 31 March will hear that Housing First is ‘Here To Stay’ in Scotland, which is also the title of the one-day event at Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC) – now open for bookings. 

The Scottish Government this week announced that more than 1000 Housing First tenancies have been created across the country’s local authorities. The conference will be an opportunity to explore what we now know – and need – for the long-haul, as well as consider some of the pressing questions as the policy continues to scale up across the country. 

With a welcome return to in person events, delegates are invited to reconnect at the EICC after the conference and join colleagues and speakers for a glass of wine or a soft drink and snacks. An informal opportunity to catch up or make new connections. 

Firmly established as national policy in 2018, by the conference 27 Scottish councils will have embedded Housing First locally, providing ordinary, settled housing as a first response to redress disadvantage and for people whose homelessness is made harder by experiences such as trauma, mental ill-health or addiction.  

This year’s event will explore the following themes. 

  • From sprint to stamina: what is needed to reach the pace and scale of demand estimates for Housing First across Scotland? 
  • How can people with most to gain be a bigger part of putting Housing First in Scotland?  
  • How do we collectively ensure frontline workers feel supported, inspired and enabled? 
  • How can health and social care step up to this challenge – as joint planners, commissioners and providers? 

Maggie Brunjes, Chief Executive of Homeless Network Scotland, said:  

“Here to Stay is a celebration of the many hundreds of people now building and living their lives in their own home as part of a community. And marking a successful end to the remarkable Pathfinder which achieved results in line with international best practice, despite challenges as a result of the pandemic. With these firm foundations, Here to Stay will also provide an honest exploration of the pace and scale of the challenge that still lies ahead.” 

The conference gets underway with A Well-Lit Path, focusing on learning and experiences at the end of Scotland’s Housing First Pathfinder that launched officially in April 2019. Hosted by Sir Andrew Cubie, Chair of Social Bite and former Chair of the Housing First Advisory Group, the session features a distinguished panel of experts who have been involved in the Pathfinder, including: Ewan Aitken, Chief Executive, Cyrenians; Professor Sarah Johnsen, ISPHERE at Heriot-Watt University; Nicky Miller, Head of Homelessness, Turning Point Scotland; Ruth Ogilvie, Head of Services, Aberdeen Cyrenians; Bryan Smith, Head of Operations, Transform Community Development, Dundee and Emma Thomson, Head of Care at Wheatley Care.  

The morning segment continues with Housing Ends Homelessness. For Housing First to scale up in line with demand estimates, the supply of and access to affordable housing is key. Hosted by Callum Chomczuk, National Director Chartered Institute of Housing Scotland, this session will explore what is needed for and from the housing sector. Panel members include: David Bookbinder, Director, Glasgow and West of Scotland Forum of Housing Associations; Lorna Cameron, Chief Executive, Horizon Housing Association; Nicola McQuiston, Wheatley Group and other guests to be confirmed. 

Following a break for lunch, the afternoon session signals breakouts on topics such as New Deal for Tenants; Women and Housing First; Breaking the Cycle and Housing First Endings. One session, Housing First – The Help! will provide an expert overview of the new Housing First annual check-up process for local authorities and partners rolling out across the five Housing Options Hubs. 

The conference will be rounding off with a session on Home & Belonging from Heather Coady while Tyler Carey, Associate of Homeless Network Scotland, will be in conversation exploring what it is to be ‘trauma informed’, and how can Housing First lead and influence a culture of compassion. 

Book tickets on the Housing First Scotland website here and sponsorship / exhibitor packages are available to suit a range of budgets and requirements. Please email hello@homelessnetwork.scot to discuss or browse the right option for your organisation here. Follow on Twitter #HeretoStay 

People needing change, people leading change

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Ginny Cooper & David Ramsay from Homeless Network Scotland reflect on their experiences working with people to lead Change.

Ginny: My colleague David and I are programme leads at Homeless Network Scotland focusing on systems and culture change and prevention, respectively. A big part of the transformational change we are working towards is to provide our network with clear and accessible information about what needs to change to help end homelessness in Scotland. So, we are having a go at co-writing a blog!

All In for Change was set up to help Scotland’s policy and legislation around housing and homelessness to be implemented in practice and is facilitated by Homeless Network Scotland in partnership with Cyrenians and Scottish Community Development Centre. The programme does this by connecting people and communicating clear messages and a common goal. It is led by a team of people with lived and frontline experience of homelessness and relies on their knowledge, and the knowledge of their networks, to find out what progress people are seeing in improving the way we support those currently experiencing homelessness.

Since joining the organisation in 2019 I have been encouraged by the commitment of the homelessness sector in Scotland to involve the voice of people with lived experience in driving change. Through co-production and co-design the traditional power imbalances we find in the current system can be challenged but there is still much more we can do.

David and I were excited to be asked to talk about our approach to Co-production at a Scottish Co-production Network’s learning event on Wednesday 24 November where we heard Jim McCormick from the Robertson Trust talk about the need for us to work towards making co-production a right and not just an invitation. I increasingly believe that it is not enough to ask people to only contribute their lived experience but also essential that we find the best way to apply people’s experience of the system to help them lead change.

Lockdown has also been a challenge with the programme only being launched a few months before we found ourselves connecting via Zoom. We have seen members drop out due to increased pressures at work, supported people who were less confident using digital platforms to ensure their voices were still being heard, and are continuously learning and adapting the way we do things.

David: Whenever I am invited to deliver a presentation on co-production it gets me reflecting on previous work I’ve been involved in, and this was no different.

Having been involved in the work of Homeless Network Scotland for ten years now, the first three as a volunteer, I’ve seen my fair share of attempts of co-production (some good, and some not as successful). I admit, I have been involved in some of the examples which have not gone so well but have gladly learned from these (well I hope so😊).

Looking back at one of the best examples I have been involved in was a project called Navigate. Navigate had peer volunteers advocating for people who needed support with housing and welfare benefit claims. This was the first peer led project I had been involved in where people who had experience of homelessness and benefit issues were supporting others. People had come along to volunteer and give up their own valuable time to help others. It was really close to my heart, as I came through a very similar route, so I was keen to get involved and make it a success.

When I think back, one of the first things we all had to agree on was a common aim for the project and an understanding of what co-production meant and that’s easier said than done. We introduced co-production at the very first introduction meeting, encouraging people to start thinking about what approach they wanted to use, and to agree on what was best for the group.

Most people had been involved in other projects before and were not used to this language (to be fair neither was I). So, it was important to start from a place where people were comfortable and take the time to explain why a co-produced approach was different, and what the benefits were. Delivering co-produced projects can take more time than traditional methods but the payback is worth it.

This was a great project and massive learning for me, and everyone involved. We would use this learning to shape projects over the next 5 years and are still referencing it now.

The co-production model is something that just feels right, and I believe we should advocate to use it more.

All in For Impact

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An informed and connected social enterprise dedicated to supporting the homelessness, housing and related sectors in Scotland is open for business, with a targeted range of specialist consultancy and learning opportunities informed by lived experience.

We Are All in is represented by an experienced team of consultants and trainers available to provide a sounding board or assistance to housing associations, councils and third sector partners preparing for future challenges and opportunities. The team, hosted by Homeless Network Scotland, has vast experience in research, evaluation and systems analysis. And leading expertise in housing and homelessness policy and in creating diverse platforms for lived experience.

The team’s Learning Lounge is also now open with a new menu for 2022, reflecting the dynamic and rapidly evolving policy and practice environment. From the latest policy developments and legislation in homelessness to rapid rehousing and supporting people in their home, all can be designed around an organisation’s needs and local requirements.

Maggie Brunjes, Chief Executive of Homeless Network Scotland, said:

“Learning from each other, understanding different perspectives and supporting others to make an impact is what we do. So we are delighted to consolidate this in the launch of the We Are All in programme for 2022. This enables the team to offer more direct capacity, a sounding board or support to create a culture where everyone in your organisation is all in.”  

As part of the training offer, the new ‘Rough Guide to Homelessness Policy and Legislation in Scotland’ captures key aspects in a rough guide format along with a useful timeline among the resources for colleagues to take away. A previous participant commented:

“I particularly valued the structure of the course and how it both unpacked the big policy areas individually – yet also brought them together into a coherent vision of what’s around and happening at the moment. Given just how much is going on at the moment this was absolutely invaluable.”

The full range of consultancy services and learning opportunities are set out in the new We Are All in – 2022 Brochure. To discuss consultancy services whatever your requirements call Martin or Janice on 0141 420 7272 or email allin@homelessnetwork.scot for a call back or more information.

Scottish Parliament Debate

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Prevention of Homelessness Duties

Live today, scheduled at 14.50-16.20 


Today, the Scottish Parliament will debate the joint Scottish Government and COSLA consultation on the Prevention of Homelessness Duties. This seeks to:

  • strengthen the rights of people experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, homelessness in Scotland.
     
  • support the principles as informed by the final report of the Prevention Review Group, which include a shared public responsibility to prevent homelessness.
     
  • note that the package of measures in the consultation includes the introduction of new legal duties on public bodies and landlords to “ask and act” on any risk of homelessness, changes to existing homelessness legislation to prioritise early intervention, and maximising the housing options available to people.
     
  • recognise that approaches to preventing homelessness should be person centred and trauma informed, and agrees that this approach will support the implementation of the human right of an adequate home for all.

Watch the debate live here on the Scottish Parliament website.

Want to know more?

Join us on Wednesday 23 February | 10am – 12pm

Join over 100 people registered to attend our free and online briefing and consultation on the new duties, including:

A full briefing on the scope and intention of the prevention duties.

Discussion and debate on the key principles and proposals.

This is a free event for Homeless Network Scotland members. Not a member? Join up here. 

Register now

Everyone Home responds to Food Banks consultation

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Where help to access food is needed, this should be provided indoors in a way that maximises dignity, choice and reduces future need, according to a joint response to the Scottish Government’s consultation on ending the need for food banks from 36 organisations working in partnership to prevent homelessness in Scotland.

The Everyone Home collective formed during the early months of the pandemic to protect progress that was made on issues around homelessness and prioritise action that can be taken together.

The draft plan for ending the need for food banks as a primary response to food insecurity was prepared by the Scottish Government’s ‘Tackling Food Insecurity Team’ with responses to the consultation requested by 25 January. The plan is expected to be published later this year.

The submission from Everyone Home sets out three key points of interest guiding its response to the consultation.

  • Poverty is the primary driver for homelessness in all its forms, with child poverty a powerful predictor of adult homelessness.
  • The homelessness third sector in Scotland has a long history of food provision using many approaches and has valuable learning and experience to share.
  • The collective is inspired by the leadership of the foodbank networks to co-design a plan to bring about an end to their own delivery in its current form, which resonates with recent and future aspects of homelessness service provision.

And with two key parts to the Everyone Home response:

  • Place based: help to access food and end food insecurity should be factored into the design of the 20-minute neighbourhood policy in Scotland. Local communities are best able to determine whether this type of service is needed in their area and can coproduce its development and monitor its impact.
  • Prepared and shared: the positive benefits of prepared and shared food for people who also seek a social interaction or stronger social network are clear and demonstrated. These benefits can be diluted if care is not taken in how it is delivered.

The charity Move On is the delivery partner for FareShare Glasgow and the West of Scotland, which takes good-quality surplus food from retailers and suppliers and distributes to community groups or charities.

John Hinton, Executive director of Move On, said:

“As a FareShare delivery partner, Move On welcomes the Scottish Government’s consultation on the draft national plan for ending the need for food banks. Along with our partners in Everyone Home, we have long recognised the importance of properly prepared food, which can be shared in a suitable environment firmly embedded in communities. We are pleased to add our voice to the calls to ensure that whatever arrangements replace food banks meets the needs of people affected by homelessness and destitution.

“FareShare partners with many community-based charities and social enterprises that know exactly where the need lies in their communities. We are committed to linking people with wider supports and services to address the underlying issues contributing to food insecurity.”

Cyrenians work with community partners to deliver community pantries in seven locations across the capital. To promote dignity, the pantries are open to the whole community with no referrals or joining criteria required and offer a range of fresh, chilled and ambient foods in exchange for a £1 fee.

Lynne Collie, Senior Manager of Good Food from Cyrenians, said:

“From surveys carried out we know that visitors find using our pantry service a positive experience, that it helps them to better manage finances and makes it easier to access a wider variety of foods.

“We are keen to see that any changes suggested within the proposal draws from the evidenced success of the community pantry approach. By maximising choice and control we can ensure access to food is done so with dignity, whilst also providing added benefit through further opportunities for volunteering and training.” 

Maggie Brunjes, Chief executive of Homeless Network Scotland, said:

“Sitting at the heart of Everyone Home’s response is the need for dignity and choice. Income inequality is the primary driver for both homelessness and food insecurity. Every household in Scotland should have enough money to remove the need for foodbanks and where help is needed this should be cash-first with rapid access to cash to financial assistance and money advice.”

View the Everyone Home collective Response to the Draft Plan here. More information is available at www.everyonehome.scot and follow-on Twitter at #EveryoneHome to keep up to date with developments.