ORGANISERS are heralding a major conference held in Edinburgh today as a “turning point” in the bid to promote a “housing first” approach to ending homelessness in Scotland.
Government, charity, health and housing officials will gather in the city for the annual Housing First Scotland Conference.
Speakers will include Scottish Cabinet Secretary Aileen Campbell, homelessness expert Sam Tsemberis and Maggie Brunjes, chief executive of the Homeless Network.
The event aims to encourage a holistic approach to getting people off the streets, but one that, crucially, starts with the basic principle that everyone deserves the opportunity to live in adequate housing.
READ MORE: This is how we can end chronic homelessness in Scotland
The Housing First Scotland Fund, which is one of the largest of its kind in the UK, was launched by Social Bite in partnership with the Corra Foundation and the Homeless Network.
The programme aims to bring hundreds of people sleeping rough and those caught in the homeless system into secure long-term tenancies.
Homeless Network chief Brunjes, said this year’s event represents a landmark for housing first advocates.
“We are so proud to be part of making Housing First a reality in Scotland along with partners including the Scottish Government, Social Bite and Corra Foundation,” she said.
“Everyone needs a home and Housing First makes it easier for those that have gone through the toughest times to get help and housing first and fast.
“This conference in Edinburgh today is the largest yet and marks a turning point.
“We are saying Housing First is normal, it’s fairer, it works – and that everyone benefits.”
The approach is based on the housing first system, first developed in New York in the early 1990s, which helped people with multiple support needs to secure accommodation and lead a balanced lifestyle.
It prioritises personal agency, with the choices of those assisted by the programme respected by case workers.
The system also allows for people to be rapidly rehoused if they lose access to accommodation.
Advocates say that those helped by the approach are more likely to require less support than others assisted via different methods in the long term.
As well as Pathways to Housing founder Tsemberis, the event, which is being held in the Edinburgh International Conference Centre, is facilitated by Sir Harry Burns, professor of global public health at Strathclyde University and Olga Clayton, Wheatley Group director of housing and care, among others.
Last year, the Scottish Government pledged £6.5 million to help more than 800 people transition to a housing first approach within three years in partnership with Social Bite, local authorities, third sector bodies and housing providers.
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