How do we move to rapid rehousing?

Following the Scottish Government’s commitment in the programme for Government in 2017 to eradicate rough sleeping and transform temporary accommodation in Scotland, the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Action Group (HARSAG) worked over a period of nine months to produce 70 recommendations to achieve the eventual eradication of homelessness in Scotland.

That vision is now being taken forward by the Scottish Government’s Homelessness Prevention Strategy Group (HPSG), jointly chaired by the Housing Minister and the Chair of the CoSLA Community Wellbeing Board. Local authorities and partners are leading on the production of Rapid Rehousing Transition Plans (RRTPs). By the end of January 2019, 32 RRTPs had been received by the Government. The plans lay out the five-year transformation journey in each local authority area to implement the bulk of the HARSAG recommendations.

RRTPs represent the most significant opportunity and challenge for homelessness services, housing associations, the voluntary sector, and not least the health & social care partnerships to make a real difference to those at risk of and experiencing homelessness in Scotland. The evidence from the 2018 Health & Homelessness Research proves that tackling homelessness and enhancing wellbeing will be a major contributor to reducing poverty in Scotland.