Scotland announces funding to move people out of temporary accommodation

Councils in Scotland are being given an extra £16m to help tackle homelessness by moving people from temporary accommodation into settled homes.

The funding package includes an investment of £6.5m in the Housing First scheme, which helps to support people with multiple and complex needs.

The new funding for rapid rehousing will consist of £8m in 2022/23 and £8m in 2023/24.

Housing Secretary Shona Robison said: ‘Tackling homelessness is about much more than just providing a bed for the night. Temporary accommodation is an important safety net, but most people need a settled place to stay where they can rebuild their lives.

‘Rapid rehousing is based around the idea that most people need a settled home, and this new funding will help councils progress their Rapid Rehousing Transition Plans to move people as quickly as possible into appropriate, settled accommodation.

‘The best way to reduce the number of households in temporary accommodation is to prevent homelessness from happening in the first place, and today’s announcement follows the recent publication of our consultation on plans for new legal duties on public bodies, highlighting the shared public responsibility to prevent homelessness in Scotland.’

The package takes the total investment in rapid rehousing in Scotland to £53.5m.

In related news, tens of thousands of people are expected to be protected from homelessness thanks to a £316m funding boost announced by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC).

The government’s Homelessness Prevention Grant will support households in England who are homeless or at risk of losing their home, with councils able to use the funding to help find a new home, access support for unexpected evictions and secure temporary accommodation.

Photo by Robert V. Ruggiero