Category: News

Published today, this report provides an analysis of responses to the joint Scottish Government/ COSLA consultation on proposed new prevention of homelessness duties, which ran from 17 December 2021 to 8 April 2022.

There is widespread support for both the package of reforms and the individual proposals outlined in the consultation but also highlighted is the need for significant investment. This will be a useful evidence base for the Scottish Government to draw on when shaping the final duties to be included in a forthcoming Housing Bill.

Read the Analysis of Consultation Responses

The new Programme for Government for 2022-2023 A Stronger & More Resilient Scotland was published on 6 September, setting out Scottish Government actions for this coming year. Many of this year’s commitments are focused on government’s response to the cost-of-living crisis, including increased protections for tenants and longer-term plans to make rents more affordable.

The aim of following measures is to support people struggling with the increased costs to food and fuel to be able to stay in their home. This would also help people maintain social connections, avoid worsening mental health issues, keep their jobs and avoid housing crises such as homelessness: 

• A rent freeze, effective from 6 Sept, will be introduced in a new emergency Housing Bill. The new legislation will also impose a temporary ban on evictions, until at least March 2023. These measures are for tenants in both the private rented sector and the social rented sector. 
   
• A new campaign will be launched to raise tenants’ awareness of their rights to ensure they can access the support and assistance they need. 
   
• A ‘one-stop-shop’ website will be introduced to provide people with information on the range of benefits and support available to them through the current crisis. 
   
•  A new Housing Bill will be introduced by the end of this parliamentary year to begin to deliver the actions of the New Deal for Tenants and some other aspects of Housing to 2040 – these are yet to be confirmed. 

Other measures to help people cope with increased costs include:

• The Fuel Insecurity Fund doubled to £20 million to help households at risk of self-disconnection.
    
• The Scottish Child Payment will increase to £25 for each eligible child from 14 November, when the payment will also open up to all under 16-year-olds. 
   
•  Rail fares will also be frozen. 

These practical steps to prevent more people becoming homeless as a result of the increased costs we are facing is very welcome. Changes to legislation are a vital foundation to this action, along with people knowing their rights. As we know from the way that other housing legislation is implemented across Scotland, implementation including enforcement measures around the new law will be key. 

Reaction to the announcements
Housing Associations are extremely worried about the rent freeze meaning they will have insufficient funds for upgrading existing property and building new homes.
Housing sector reacts to Programme for Government rent freeze
Scottish Housing News 7.9.22

Scottish Association of Landlords have been ‘inundated’ by private sector landlords saying they will remove their properties from the housing market, which could lead to more tenants being made homeless. Concerns have been raised about interest rates leading to increases in mortgage payments (especially buy-to-let mortgages) which will no longer be covered by rent.
Scottish landlords warn of severe problems if ‘rent freeze’ goes ahead
Landlord Zone 6.9.22

Living Rent strongly welcome the rent freeze
Scotland introduces rent freeze and eviction ban to protect tenants from cost of living crisis
Big Issue 6.9.22

Grant Campbell will join Homeless Network Scotland in the role of Head of Partnerships and Consulting, a newly created post to support a diverse network in Scotland to connect, learn and act on homelessness together.

Mr Campbell joins Homeless Network Scotland from Crisis where he was Director of Services across the UK and previously Director of the Crisis Skylight service in Edinburgh.

Grant is a highly regarded collaborator and facilitator – and a well-kent face in the homelessness sector, including his time as Chief Executive of Glasgow City Mission. In Glasgow, Grant was also part of the Alliance Core Team, alongside Glasgow Health & Social Care Partnership and Homeless Network Scotland, that led the consultation and design stage of the Glasgow Alliance to End Homelessness, since established. Grant was also a founding member of the City Ambition Network (CAN) which has brought a flexible and collaborative approach for creating stable pathways for people who are homeless and facing severe disadvantage.

Grant said: “It is great to be joining Homeless Network Scotland at such a critical time. While there is much work to be done in Scotland, I remain excited and passionate about what we can achieve together across the country in our joint quest to end homelessness.”

Homeless Network Scotland is a membership organisation with a focus on the system and policy changes needed to end homelessness in Scotland. The network actively supports organisations that want to collaborate and provides a platform for people with direct experience of homelessness to connect directly with policy and decision makers.

Grant continued: “For several years, I’ve seen up close the work of Homeless Network Scotland and the impact it has. The organisation has played a key role in galvanising the sector and bringing people together. It’s in that spirit of sharing and collaboration that this new role has been created, and I can’t wait to roll up my sleeves and be part of it.”

Grant will also lead the development of Homeless Network Scotland’s specialist We Are All In consultancy, dedicated to supporting the homelessness, housing and related sectors with a targeted range of specialist consultancy, research and learning opportunities.