A new policy paper published by the Centre for Homelessness Impact calls for specific interventions to relieve and prevent homelessness among people from ethnic minorities to address stark inequalities among people who are assessed as homeless. The report, written by Nissa Finney, Professor of Human Geography at the University of St Andrews, highlights how inequalities experienced by different ethnic groups across the UK contribute to higher rates of homelessness, including that black people are more than three times as likely to experience homelessness as white people in England and twice as likely in Scotland.
The paper urges local authorities and accommodation providers to focus on systemic inequalities in housing provision and says governments should bring race equality approaches to homelessness programmes. Read the paper here.
Housing Options Scotland and CaCHE (UK Collaborative Centre for Housing Evidence) have joined forces to produce a series of stories about why inclusive and accessible housing and related services are key to people’s lives.
In this podcast, Janice Stevenson, Development Officer at LGBT Youth Scotland, a youth work service providing youth groups for LGBT young people across Scotland raises various issues that we know many organisations face, which includes a lack of data to help providers deliver appropriate services. Janice’s work focuses on influencing policy in Scotland for LGBT youth populations. A broad range of important issues are covered, including:
discrimination in housing for LGBT people
challenges with people not recognising their own rights to housing
In February, Councillor Jane Meagher chaired the first meeting of a new Homelessness Task Force appointed by the City of Edinburgh Council’s Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Committee – see the committee report here. The remit of the group is to build on existing prevention work, reduce the number of people rough sleeping, accessing temporary accommodation and living in insecure accommodation.
To increase the supply of quality council led temporary accommodation provision, reducing the reliance on bed and breakfast. And to ensure that appropriate support is available for all people who require it. A very informative presentation was delivered outlining the current context of Edinburgh’s affordable housing programme, an increasing population and the local housing pressures. A copy of the slides are available here.
We are always reviewing the training courses we offer. We’d appreciate your help to shape our training offer. Please take 5 mins to complete a short survey by Friday 17 March at 5pm – and we’ll throw in a *free training place in a course of your choice if you do.
*Please note the free training offer is limited to 2 delegates per organisation on completion of the full survey.
Come and visit our Learning Lounge and see what is currently on offer for 2023 – new courses are being added across the year.
Closer to home:a place-based approach to preventing homelessness
All homelessness starts in a community, so a place-based approach to preventing it happening is part of a wider shift towards employing assets that already exist in communities to improve wellbeing, address poverty and prevent homelessness. The learning experience will connect the causes and drivers of homelessness with the local knowledge and services that can provide an early warning approach using a simple two-point technique. It is designed for professionals working with people at risk or those who come into regular contact with members of the public.
Rough guide to homelessness policy & legislation in Scotland
This course looks in detail at existing and recent housing and homelessness policy and legislation in Scotland and how it intersects to create a world-leading safety net for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Since 2017, the influence of the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Action Group (HARSAG) and the Scottish Parliament’s Inquiry on Homelessness has led to the Scottish Government/COSLA High-Level Plan to End Homelessness. We will examine legislation while identifying and analysing local challenges in implementation. This learning opportunity will broaden your knowledge and understanding of current policy and legislation designed to prevent, alleviate and ultimately end homelessness in Scotland. Presented in a rough guide format.
The unequal risk: equality in housing and homelessness
The Equality Act 2010 brought together over 100 pieces of legislation dating from 1970 to 2007 to provide a legal framework to protect the rights of individuals and advance equality of opportunity for all. We know that experiences of the housing system, including risk of housing crises and homelessness, are varied and we need to understand these differences so we can more effectively prevent and tackle homelessness. This session aims to help build your confidence in talking about, and acting on, diversity, equality and inclusion, representing the diverse communities of people affected by housing, homelessness and poverty issues.
Preparing for future challenges and opportunities means adapting and getting ahead of the curve. We know change happens when we change together. We also know that time means everything. We can help your team with topics such as:
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