The latest Network Briefing brings news on the work of Fair Way Scotland, Housing First Scotland, and the Everyone Home collective. And you’ll find reports and research from Shelter Scotland, Rock Trust, Scottish Federation of Housing Associations, and more.
Since the last training bulletin, we delivered a refreshed equality and human rights course which learners described as “superb” and launched our very first blended rough guide course as flexible eLearning and a live workshop.
We also finished a series of four lectures to trainee doctors and medical students, sharing the stories of people experiencing homelessness and the transformational impact that medical teams can have when they are more human.
Here is a summary of what is coming up in March and April, perfect for lifelong learners, actioning your annual appraisal or for designing a team training plan.
What’s new?
Upcoming Homeless Network Scotland training dates
We bring good vibes, a blend of direct and academic evidence, and you bring the questions. Our online training sessions are a great opportunity to network, share examples of good practice and learn from experts.
Training and events about navigating the immigration system
Navigating the immigration and housing system is increasingly complex, especially with new immigration rule updates that mean people who arrived seeking safety in the UK via a dangerous journey will normally be refused citizenship. There are lots of helpful events to better understand people’s rights and eligibility to public funds, including housing and homelessness assistance.
Wider training and webinars for the homelessness workforce
To suggest a training topic you would like to see on our programme, or to send us details of webinars, learning events or workshops for including in the next training bulletin, please email laura@homelessnetwork.scot
A new legal briefing sets out steps the Scottish Government and local authorities can take now to mitigate the harm caused to people in Scotland by UK immigration policy.
Ending Destitution in Scotland: A Road Map for Policymakers was commissioned by the Institute for Social Policy, Housing and Equalities Research (I-SPHERE) and Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) through their role in Fair Way Scotland, a partnership working to prevent homelessness and destitution among people with No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF).
The briefing by Jen Ang, for legal and strategic consultancy Lawmanity, follows the latest Fair Way Scotland evaluation report Destitution by Design, which sets out the terrible impact of the UK immigration system on people who come to Scotland to work, study, join family or seek safety.
This legal route-map argues that Scottish Government and local authorities can take positive steps to end this situation across seven areas that deliver essential support to people: social security and financial support, housing, transport, health and social care, education, work, justice and legal aid.
It challenges presumptions that reserved immigration law prevents specific groups from accessing support that would mitigate the harm they suffer at present, by presenting workable solutions that national and local government could pursue to achieve immediate positive change.
More broadly, the briefing recommends that decision makers in Scotland can fulfil their commitment to ending homelessness and destitution by reviewing and if necessary redesigning devolved policy, working with the UK Government to define ‘public funds’, improving frontline practice, and establishing parallel systems of support.
The Everyone Home collective and All in for Change wrote to Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice Shirley-Anne Somerville at the end of last year asking for a commitment to preserving our housing rights.
These protections have been built up over 25 years of devolution but are under threat because of the housing emergency. But this crisis is not, and never can be, an excuse or cover to water down people’s rights.
The right to a safe home is not something just for times that are easy. It is when times are tough, when councils need to decide between one priority or another, that rights come into their own.
The Cabinet Secretary has now responded to the collective and the Change Team with a letter committing to our rights.
Ms Somerville says: “They are key elements of Scotland’s strong rights for renters and homeless households and part of the protections in place to ensure homes are safe and suitable.
“I am clear that changing or suspending their application would risk regression and expose people to unsafe or unsuitable accommodation.
“As I mentioned in my previous letter, I am very proud of the rights that exist in Scotland for people experiencing homelessness and I can therefore assure you that I do not intend to pursue any changes to legislation.”
➡ Read a comment piece on why we must go forward, not back on housing rights.
The Everyone Home collective has warned that people forced to sleep rough in Scotland could die this winter because of a severe lack of accommodation amid record levels of homelessness.
The collective has written to Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP and COSLA Community Wellbeing Spokeswoman Councillor Maureen Chalmers voicing “serious concern” that the housing emergency will put lives at risk in the coming months. As things stand, there is simply not enough safe accommodation available for those who are homeless this winter.
The group, made up of nearly 40 third and academic sector organisations focused on housing and homelessness, issued a call for coordinated action as it warned of an accelerating crisis magnified by factors including cost-of-living pressures, austerity and inadequate social security.
Everyone Home has also for the first time written to the Scottish Human Rights Commission to ask them to urgently investigate this potential breach of government obligations to protect the fundamental right to life. Both Scottish Government and local authorities have duties under the Human Rights Act 1998 to take measures to safeguard lives.
In addition, the organisations have urged UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper MP to ensure that the Home Office plays its part in preventing homelessness in Scotland. The Home Office must provide local authorities in Scotland with resources to ensure people granted Leave to Remain can move quickly into settled homes.
Everyone Home states: “Every person who is forced to sleep rough is one too many. Being left with no choice but to sleep in doorways and tunnels and parks severely damages people’s health and wellbeing, risks their safety and their lives, strips them of dignity and affects our wider communities too.
“In Scotland in 2024, no one should be left with no choice but to sleep on the street, and we emphasise that forcing people to do so at any time of year and particularly during winter puts their life at risk.”
It comes after Scottish Government statistics for 2023/24 showed that the number of people who slept rough prior to a homelessness application rose by 506 to 2,931 in the last year. That represents 7% of all households making an application and is higher than the pre-pandemic figure.
The statistics also revealed rough sleeping is on the rise across much of the country – including locations not traditionally affected to the same extent as urban areas.
Action to address the housing emergency now and in the longer term was top of the agenda at Scotland’s annual homelessness conference on 29 and 30 October, along with strengthening prevention and ensuring public bodies are equipped to deliver on their duties to address and prevent homelessness.
Maggie Brunjes, chief executive, Homeless Network Scotland said: “As we move into the coldest part of the year, we cannot allow an already bad situation to descend into tragedy. We need local and national government teams to work together quickly and effectively to protect lives by ensuring everyone has a safe place to stay.
“The bar has been set far too low for those at the sharpest end of homelessness this year and we cannot accept this. We need swift action to allocate and target resources to provide people with – at a minimum – somewhere safe to stay while they wait for a settled home.”