Category: Blogs

The Shared Spaces research now underway in Scotland will assist local authorities and partners delivering local Rapid Rehousing Transition Plans (RRTPs). The research starts from the basis that even in the best managed homelessness systems, with adequate access to affordable and suitable housing, there may be a requirement for other housing options, either while settled accommodation is sourced or decisions are made with people about their medium-to-long-term preferences. But what type, how much – and in what conditions are shared options optimum?

The Shared Spaces research group includes representatives from local and national government, academia and the third sector and launches as part of The Homeless Network Scotland annual conference at a session on Thursday 22 October starting at 2.30pm. It is made possible by our research partners, Action for Children, Turning Point Scotland and Crisis. 

Beth Watts, Chair of Shared Spaces and Senior Research Fellow at I-SPHERE, said: “This is an important discussion in the context of Scotland’s commitment to rapid rehousing and Housing First, which will become the default response to homelessness as local authorities implement their rapid rehousing transition plans. At this early stage our priority is to ensure different voices have a chance to contribute to a conversation on shared and supported accommodation. I look forward to chairing this group over the next few months.”

Supported Accommodation is also commonly called supported housing, resettlement or move on projects. It should provide a safe housing option when people do not want a mainstream tenancy of their own or would benefit from access to onsite support. In areas where there is pressure on the housing market supported accommodation is frequently utilised when someone neither needs nor wants that level of support. The research aims to define and firm up the role of supported housing in Scotland and will report in the first half of next year. 

The All in for Change programme has adapted over the past months to new ways of working. With increasing requests for Change Leads to be involved in webinars, the team has begun to review how their unique collaborative voice, of people with front line and lived experience, can continue to influence change.

The Change Team played a central role in consulting the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Action Group (HARSAG) on their updated recommendations for Scottish Government, and have since been invited to review the revised Ending Homelessness Together plan before it is published. 

This has sparked an opportunity for the team to re-visit the four New Directions which underpin the All in for Change programme (people first, no wrong door, at home and good vibes) in light of the changes happening on the ground due to continued restrictions.

This month, the Change Team will be participating in the Homeless Network Scotland annual conference, Safe As Houses, where they will be joining live panel discussions as well as hosting their own webinar. 

They also continue to contribute to the Everyone Home collective and help to shape route maps focussing on Prevention and the Private Rented Sector.  

The Scottish Government has published the Domestic Abuse (Protection) (Scotland) Bill, introducing it in Parliament on 2nd October.  

The Bill creates additional protection for people who are at risk of domestic abuse, particularly where they are living with their abuser.

As well as introducing new orders and notices to provide short-term protections to fill identified gaps in law, the Bill also gives additional protection to people in social housing who experience domestic abuse. It introduces new legal provisions to allow social landlords to terminate the tenancy rights of someone who has been abusive to their partner or ex-partner, with the aim of preventing homelessness for people experiencing domestic abuse.  

You can read more about the new  Bill on the Scottish Parliament website.