Scotland’s Shelter urges First Minister to boost homeless funding.

On World Homeless Day, Shelter Scotland is calling on First Minister John Swinney to prioritize funding for homeless prevention to support the 10,110 homeless children in Scotland.

The charity highlights that the new prevention duties outlined in the housing bill currently before the Scottish Parliament must be accompanied by adequate funding to prevent councils from being left in a difficult situation.

With reports of ten councils’ homeless services facing ‘systemic failure’ and existing services being cut due to insufficient funding, Shelter Scotland emphasizes that those dealing with the housing emergency on the front line cannot be expected to do more with less.

Alison Watson, the Director of Shelter Scotland, stresses the importance of financial resources and political leadership in preventing homelessness and helping individuals transition out of homelessness.

Watson stated, “The current lack of resources has resulted in several councils declaring housing emergencies, local authorities consistently violating housing and homelessness laws, and existing prevention services being discontinued.

“It is unreasonable to expect those at the forefront of the housing crisis to achieve positive outcomes without adequate support. Without additional funding to complement the new duties outlined in the housing bill, councils and families at risk of homelessness are essentially stranded in a system that perpetuates homelessness.”

Shelter Scotland is advocating for immediate action to address the pressing issue of homelessness prevention in Scotland and is urging the government to allocate sufficient funding to support these crucial efforts.

This World Homeless Day, let us all come together to advocate for change and support those in need of assistance to secure stable and safe housing.

Together, we can work towards a future where every individual in Scotland has a place they can call home, free from the fear of homelessness.