A major step forward in the fight against homelessness has been announced with a new £4 million fund to pilot bold, preventative approaches across Scotland.
The fund, launched by Housing Secretary Màiri McAllan, will back innovative projects that aim to keep people in their homes before a crisis hits.
At the heart of this move is a shift in thinking.
From reacting to homelessness after it happens, to acting early enough to stop it in its tracks.
The fund will be managed by Advice Direct Scotland and supports the introduction of new ‘ask and act’ duties, proposed in the Housing (Scotland) Bill.
These duties would place legal responsibility on bodies such as health boards, the police and prison service to identify people at risk of homelessness and take reasonable steps to help.
Ms McAllan said the best way to tackle homelessness is to stop it from happening at all.
“We are determined to end homelessness and the best way to do this is to prevent homelessness in the first place.”
“This investment in prevention pilots will help us test and scale up innovative approaches to help people stay in their homes.”
She visited West Granton Housing Co-operative in Edinburgh to hear how their ‘Get Settled’ project is already supporting 400 households across Edinburgh, Midlothian, East Lothian and Fife.
“Projects such as West Granton Housing Co-operative’s ‘Get Settled’ demonstrates how targeted support can transform lives by not only helping people to find a home but supporting them to settle into their communities.”
She said the pilots would lay the groundwork for stronger legal protections in the forthcoming Housing Bill.
Andrew Bartlett, Chief Executive of Advice Direct Scotland, welcomed the shift.
“The new ‘ask and act’ provisions shift the focus from crisis intervention towards proactive prevention which could save many people from enduring the trauma of homelessness.”
Maeve McGoldrick of Crisis Scotland said too many people are being failed by a system that only intervenes too late.
“These new legal duties, requiring public services to ask people at risk of homelessness about their housing situation, then act to offer support if needed, will help change that.”
She called the Scottish Government’s approach a world-first and said getting it right now will mean stronger protections later.
“By running a series of pilots on the new homelessness prevention duties we can make sure those working in health, justice, education and beyond are fully prepared to play a greater role in ending homelessness in Scotland.”
This £4 million investment builds on an earlier £1 million commitment and is part of the Scottish Government’s Programme for Government.
It’s not just policy.
It’s a promise to act earlier, to act smarter, and to act with purpose.
