Category: News

People who do not have a settled address or are experiencing homelessness can register to vote in the Scottish Parliament election on 6 May. The deadline to apply for a postal vote (including postal proxy vote) is 5pm on Tuesday 6 April. Anyone who wants to vote in person must ensure they register by midnight on Monday 19 April. The deadline to apply for an ‘in person’ proxy vote is 5pm on Tuesday 27 April.

The Electoral Commission’s guidance for professionals who work with people experiencing homelessness is available to download here. This was developed with support from the Everyone Home Collective. If you have any questions after reading the guide you can contact your local Electoral Registration Office. You can find their details by entering the postcode for the address which the person you are supporting would like to register at here. If you would like to raise awareness about voting in the election, you can download digital and print resources from the Electoral Commission here.

The Scottish Government has published a report that highlights what it believes are correlations between homelessness and the roll out of Universal Credit (UC). The analysis is important because in January 2020 there were around 240,000 people claiming UC in Scotland, which had risen to 480,000 by January this year according to the data contained in the report.

If the Benefit is contributing to an increased risk of homelessness then the large rise in claimants could track an increase in homelessness in the future, particularly once emergency Covid-19 support currently in place comes to an end or is withdrawn. For example, the current £20-a-week Universal Credit uplift, originally due to finish in April but extended until the end of September in the recent UK Budget.

The report outlines that homelessness rates in Scotland have slightly increased since 2015, coinciding with the rollout of Universal Credit since 2013. Mental health has grown as a reason for homelessness over that period, while homeless households and households affected by the five-week wait tend to be similar in composition. The report also identifies what it frames as a statistically significant correlation between UC sanctions and homelessness across local authorities in Scotland.

The report concludes: “Amid broader debates on the future of UC, it is therefore crucial that the impacts on homelessness are recognised and addressed.”

As part of an announcement of additional funding for drug services on 18 March the Scottish Government has also taken steps to close the Housing Benefit loophole which sometimes put the homes of people entering residential rehabilitation at risk. While some areas had found a workaround, it was not being applied consistently. There is recognition in the announcement that residential rehabilitation may not be the right choice for some and plans include measures allowing people to access treatment in a setting and at a time that meets their needs.

The four funds announced last week include:

• a £5 million Communities Fund to provide resources to community and third sector organisations to increase capacity  
• a £5 million Improvement Fund to support improvements to services for outreach, treatment, rehabilitation and aftercare, with dedicated support for women
• a £3 million Families and Children Fund to support the families of those affected by drug misuse during treatment
• a £5 million Recovery Fund for additional residential rehabilitation capacity.

Domestic Abuse legislation passed by the Scottish Parliament in 2018 established that coercive and controlling behaviour is domestic abuse, and a crime. It also acknowledged the harm to children living in a home where abuse is taking place.

The Domestic Abuse (Protection) (Scotland) Bill, passed in the Scottish Parliament last week, adds to safeguards already in place. In 2018-19, 88 per cent of all domestic abuse incidents recorded in Scotland occurred within a home.

Domestic abuse is the leading cause of women’s homelessness in Scotland and the Bill increases protection for people who are living with the perpetrator. It allows social landlords to end the tenancy of a perpetrator and take other steps to protect the housing of the person who has experienced abuse. A video of the debate is available here on the Scottish Parliament website.

The Housing to 2040 publication sets out the Scottish Government’s long-term outlook for homes and communities across Scotland. Including supporting documents tackling equalities, child rights and the impact on rural and island communities, the final publication has been informed and shaped through consultation. Housing to 2040 is intended to reflect the diversity of people, homes and communities and provide a high-level guide to how policy decisions might be made over the next 20 years. The document also sets out plans for 100,000 affordable homes in the ten years up to 2031/32, with at least 70 per cent of these for social rent.

Plans to end homelessness are included, such as supporting people into a settled home through a rapid rehousing approach, and a commitment to Housing First is included as the default option for people with needs in addition to housing.

While Housing First will assist most people with complex needs there may be others who require something different. Housing to 2040 section 03, titled The Route Map, highlights research commissioned by Homeless Network Scotland and led by Indigo House, investigating the need, scale and form of shared and supported accommodation. This will report later 2021 and the Scottish Government has committed to work with partners to take action to ensure people are able to access the kind of home and support they need.