Urgent: 8 frontline housing calls for change

A new report has been released aiming to shed light on the national housing emergency unfolding across the country. Earlier this year, the All in for Change team embarked on a nationwide journey known as the Taking the Temperature National Roadshow, spanning Aberdeen, Clydebank, Falkirk, Greenock, and Kirkcaldy. Their mission was clear – to uncover the impact of the housing crisis on individuals at risk of homelessness and the dedicated professionals striving to assist them. They sought to identify obstacles hindering progress, highlight areas of success amidst the challenges, and gather insights on how to enhance services.
During their travels, the Change Team engaged with 146 individuals, including frontline workers, homeless individuals, local authority personnel, managers, and councillors. They delved into the happenings across the five Housing Options hubs and evaluated the advancement towards realising All in for Change’s 4 New Directions – key priorities aimed at enhancing service delivery for those in need.
The comprehensive report encapsulates the team’s observations and was presented to the Scottish Government and COSLA Homelessness Prevention Strategy Group recently. The report articulates eight imperative calls emanating from the frontline of the housing crisis – outlining crucial actions required in areas such as prevention, housing supply, cultural transformation, caseload management, service integration, community resource utilisation, and more.
In essence, frontline responders to the housing emergency have called for:
- Focus on rapid rehousing and prioritise the Housing First approach
- Adopt a targeted strategy for individuals at high risk of homelessness and collaborate with them to prevent crisis
- Expand housing stock by activating empty properties, addressing voids promptly, and enhancing social housing availability
- Foster stronger partnerships between local authorities and the private rental sector to promote letting to households seeking accommodation
- Place individuals at the centre by simplifying access to support services, offering more face-to-face interactions, and bolstering community engagement
- Enhance awareness of data sharing regulations like GDPR to enable seamless service provision without hindrances
- Scale up training initiatives and support for trauma-informed practices
- Alleviate caseload burdens and reduce pressures on housing and homelessness staff to facilitate meaningful relationships and positive outcomes
All in for Change comprises individuals with lived experience of homelessness, with Homeless Network Scotland and Cyrenians overseeing the initiative, which is funded by the Scottish Government and Frontline Network. By leveraging the collective wisdom and experiences of various stakeholders, the Change Team seeks to drive systemic improvements. By endorsing their recommendations, you too can contribute to this transformative agenda.