Category: News

A Scottish Statutory Instrument (SSI) will be laid in Parliament on 13 January that will further extend the temporary exceptions in response to the coronavirus pandemic from 31 January 2021 until 30 June 2021.

This new legislation means that until 30 June 2021 a placement will not be considered as unsuitable if:

• A person in the household has symptoms of coronavirus and the household requires to isolate; or
• The accommodation is required to provide temporary accommodation to ensure that a distance of 2 metres can be maintained between a member of the household and a person who is not a member of the household in order to prevent the spread of coronavirus; or
• The local authority is unable to place the household in suitable accommodation as a result of the impacts of coronavirus on temporary accommodation supply in the area, provided that where a household includes a child or a pregnant woman the household is not placed in unsuitable accommodation for more than 7 days.

Guidance to support the Unsuitable Accommodation Order has been developed by a local authority working group in liaison with other homelessness parnters and this is due to be published in January.

The beginning of December saw Homeless Network Scotland, Mayday Trust, Platfform and Changing Lives host a week of conversations in an online event to launch the UK wide New System Alliance. 

The topics of discussion ranged from A World Without Fixing to Action Beyond the Conversation, with common themes emerging such as: How do we create support around the community? and, rethinking language and the use of labels. We reflected on how we have created a system where services and people who are there to help often get in the way, and that we need to give power and resources back to the people going through tough times – and the families and communities which support them. 

“I want to see change for people – I want to be part of that change”

There will be more news about how to get involved with the New System Alliance coming in the new year, but until then you can:

Re-watch the discussions: newsystemalliance.org/events/
Read our Wisdoms from the System: newsystemalliance.org/wisdom-from-the-system/
Become a New System Ally: newsystemalliance.org/new-system-allies/
Follow us: @NewSystemAlly 

The expansion of the Unsuitable Accommodation Order and the transition to Rapid Rehousing and Housing First are both drivers for the sector to redefine the role of supported housing and shared living as a response to homelessness in Scotland.  Homeless Network Scotland commissioned and co-funded, with additional funding from Action for Children, Crisis and Turning Point Scotland, a qualitative research project led by Anna Evans at Indigo House which will seek to better understand:     

• In what circumstances, if any, is shared or supported accommodation the appropriate housing option for households experiencing homelessness? 
• What should the shared and supported accommodation options required in these circumstances look like?  
• What is the likely scale of such shared and supported accommodation options likely to be in the future?  
• How well placed are local authorities and service providers to adopt these housing options at the scale required? 

The early themes emerging from the research are already interesting and in 2021 a national conversation, culminating in an annual conference in the Autumn, will be launched to interact with and hear from as many people as possible across the homelessness, housing, justice, health and social care sectors.  So please watch out for the launch and participate in the national conversation as much as you can.

The role that the Private Rented Sector can play in ending homelessness in Scotland has long been the subject of debate.  For some, the more limited security of tenure and higher rents makes it a less than optimal option, and for others, the potential additional choice of location offered by the sector can be important.  

The introduction of the new Private Residential Tenancy in December 2017 sought to improve security of tenure and access to justice by providing open-ended tenancies and ending no-fault evictions.  To understand the impact of these legal changes on the rights and responsibilities between landlords and tenants, the Nationwide Foundation commissioned Indigo House to deliver the three-year Rent Better research programme.   

The first report from the research programme has been published with key findings including that while the majority of people feel secure in their tenancy, the minority that feel less secure are those with less financial power – those living in deprived areas, on lower incomes and housing benefit.  Also, the research showed that more effort is required to support tenants to build knowledge of their legal rights.

A short video outlining the research project is available at Baseline introduction from the Nationwide Foundation | Rent Better (indigohousegroup.com) and the full and summary research reports can be found at Findings | Rent Better (indigohousegroup.com)