The Scottish Government has announced that a temporary ban on eviction orders will be extended until the end of March 2021.
Regulations will be laid in the Scottish Parliament on 14 January to extend the current ban, which is in place at present until 22 January. The extended ban will apply to all evictions in areas subject to level 3 or 4 restrictions, except cases of serious anti-social behaviour, including domestic abuse. Subject to review every three weeks to ensure it remains necessary to protect against the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), it will remain in force until 31 March. More at https://www.gov.scot/news/eviction-ban-extended/
This course will cover designing and delivering support alongside people who are staying in their own home. It will examine the pivotal role of the relationship between support worker and tenant and includes coaching techniques to help people to sustain tenancies and build strong links with their community. With the emphasis on using a person-led, asset-based and trauma-informed approach, this session will explore the important elements to supporting people at home.
25 & 27 January 2021 | 2 x 3 hour sessions | Online | 10am – 1pm HNS Member £50* / Non Member £65*
We are writing to ask for your urgent support in extending an important aspect of Scotland’s coronavirus response. Please help prevent an increase in homelessness this autumn by supporting an extension to temporary safeguards relating to evictions.
The Everyone Home Collective came together early in the pandemic because we knew the conditions were being created for a surge in homelessness; we want to do all we can to prevent that. The Collective of organisations from across the third, academic, legal and advice sectors meet frequently on priorities to mitigate the worst impacts of the pandemic on people affected by or at risk of homelessness in Scotland.
A second wave of new eviction cases that may result from the social and economic impact of COVID-19 can be mitigated by Parliament extending the provisions from 30 September to April 2021 in the first instance. This was also a key recommendation of the expert Homelessness & Rough Sleeping Action Group.
We are concerned that if these temporary measures are lifted prematurely you may see an increase in homelessness in your constituency. With the pandemic far from being over and the lasting impact on unemployment unknown, this would be devastating for individuals and families and counter to good public health outcomes in the community.
Members across the Scottish Parliament can make sure that people with the most insecure housing and economic conditions do not shoulder the impact of this pandemic.
Evicting people into rooflessness is to be avoided at any time, especially during a public health emergency. It is crucial that we all play our part to prevent homelessness from happening in the first place and that we ensure tenants and landlords have the support they need to resolve any issues. The majority of evictions are due to rent arrears, and we counter the position that people who can pay and don’t are a significant number. The Collective are much more likely to advise and support people with rent arrears who have significant money challenges, people with many other life stresses, and people who avoid official correspondence because of mounting pressures affecting their health and wellbeing. Each case has a unique, very real and very human story. These households need our help, especially now and in the aftermath of this pandemic.
These are not ordinary circumstances. The emergency measures put in place quickly and with Parliament’s support have helped many people stay safe and well over the past few months. This is why we are urging you to support the extension of emergency legislation on evictions up to April 2021 in the first instance.
Services supporting people experiencing or at risk of homelessness in Scotland’s biggest city will be transformed as the new Glasgow Alliance to End Homelessness takes the lead role in co-ordinating services and prevention work. One of the most important parts of the approach to many is that its work will involve, as equal partners, people with their own lived experience of homelessness. Change Lead at Homeless Network Scotland, David Kidd, explains the process.
A few weeks before the coronavirus crisis took hold it was announced which group of organisations would lead the new Alliance, working with the city council to transform the planning, design and delivery of homelessness services. Aspire, Crossreach, Loretto Care, Mungo Foundation, Sacro, Salvation Army and YPeople make up the successful group. Objectives include ending rough sleeping, preventing homelessness and alleviating its impact, reducing the length of time people spend in temporary accommodation, minimising repeat homelessness and helping people who were formerly homeless maintain their tenancy.
Glasgow City Health & Social Care Partnership (GCHSCP) has traditionally bought a variety of homelessness services from third and independent sector service providers. The new arrangement will see GCHSCP retain statutory responsibility for homelessness, while commissioning becomes a collaborative process alongside the service providers who formed the new Alliance and, most importantly, members of Glasgow Homelessness Involvement and Feedback Team (GHIFT).
GHIFT is made up of people with lived experience, supported by Homeless Network Scotland. Members of GHIFT have spent many months working with GCHSP, embedded in their procurement team to help decide which partnership would lead the Glasgow Alliance to End Homelessness.
This rewarding and challenging work followed on from a role helping to bring about the Alliance initially. From taking part in a co-produced, city-wide review of homelessness services, where the need for a more collaborative way of working was established, to co-designing outcomes that the Alliance will work towards – lived experience had a seat at the top table through GHIFT. Its members will continue to be involved in decision making as the Alliance ramps up. Martin, a GHIFT member who worked on the Glasgow Alliance tender, said:
“Before the scoring process started, I was worried that I wasn’t capable or didn’t know enough to fully get involved but I found that I knew more than I gave myself credit for. The training and support made the process easier and having people listen to me as an equal has made improvements to my confidence & self-esteem.”
“Because of my previous experiences I had an impression of the council as people who didn’t care about homelessness, like it was just a job. Now I’ve had the chance to see things from the other side and it has completely changed how I feel.”
Linda Hutchinson is a specialist consultant working on the Alliance procurement process and congratulated the members of GHIFT for their work, saying:
“The Glasgow experience was one of the best examples of alliance development that I have seen. The contribution made by people with lived experience from GHIFT towards reaching the final decision strengthens the process significantly, and provides additional reassurance for the HSCP that the right outcome was achieved.”
GHIFT is currently on the look out for new members. If you, or someone you work with, has a passion for system-change and would like more information about joining GHIFT and how to get involved in ending homelessness in Glasgow, please contact David Kidd at hello@homelessnetwork.scot or find us on Twitter @Homelessnetscot – or download the recruitment pack www.homelessnetwork.scot/ghift and find out all about it.
Night shelters and hotel rooms as a response to homelessness will be actively designed out over the next phase according to plans published today by the Everyone Home Collective. The plans will feed into Scottish and local Government thinking as the country moves out of lockdown and considers the future of night shelter and hotel accommodation along with other issues around homelessness policy.
The Route Map can be viewed here at the Everyone Home website along with further information about the work of the Collective and other plans over the coming weeks and months. Keep up to date with the latest thinking and publications using #EveryoneHome on social media.
Night shelters currently operate in Edinburgh, delivered by Bethany Christian Trust since 1996, and in Glasgow delivered by Glasgow City Mission since 2010.
The COVID-19 pandemic has raised both health and practical considerations for charities providing this type of accommodation. This is especially true for dormitory-style shelters.
Maggie Brunjes, Chief Executive of Homeless Network Scotland, said: “This has been a priority issue for the Collective so I want to thank everyone involved in pulling together this important Route Map, and the organisations running shelters for their leadership and expertise in reaching an agreement that will work.
“The Collective have agreed to modify provision later this year to take into account social distancing and ensure the safety of guests and staff, aiming to make sure shelter is provided for all those who need it. The Route Map sets out our objective to phase out this type of provision, and in the meantime have it act as a reception centre for Housing First and other rapid rehousing options.”
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