The Scottish Parliament’s Local Government and Communities Committee has published a series of recommendations in a report on homelessness today, following a year-long inquiry into the causes and long-term solutions to homelessness in Scotland.
One of the recommendations is to roll out a version of Housing First. The housing model aims to quickly provide a home to those in need, alongside the right level of support, rather than going through several levels of temporary accommodation. It has proven to be successful in Finland: the only country in Europe where homelessness has declined.
The committee report also highlights SNP failures on homelessness
The report into homelessness depicts a catalogue of failures of the SNP. This report makes it clear that vulnerable people are falling through large gaps in the legislation with evidence that people are being denied their rights. There is also evidence of so-called gatekeeping (deterring someone from making a homeless application) going on in some councils.
The report highlights that homeless people are having to take legal advice in order to access services that they are entitled to.
The committee also found that some homeless people are spending far too long in temporary accommodation –sometimes years, and much of that temporary accommodation is substandard.
Lastly, the report notes that rough sleeping appears to have increased by 10 per cent over the last year.
Graham Simpson, Scottish Conservative Housing and Communities Spokesman and member of the Local Government and Communities Committee said:
"This is a startling wake-up call for the SNP and it must act with urgency to fix these problems.
"Homeless people must have full access to the services they are entitled to and must not be denied their rights.
"It is unacceptable that people are spending such a long time in temporary accommodation, and that accommodation can be substandard.
"Despite repeated warnings the SNP has failed to stop gatekeeping in councils so the Scottish Conservatives are calling on the SNP to act with urgency and stop this practice.
"Fundamentally, too many people are sleeping rough. Despite the extra money the SNP has categorically failed to tackle this problem effectively. The SNP must implement long-term solutions to tackle it.
"Scottish Conservatives wholeheartedly endorse the committee recommendation that the Housing First model should be rolled out for those in the greatest need.
"This will require inspiring leadership and joined-up thinking of the kind that has been lacking from this SNP government."
The full report in pdf format can be found at the following LINK.