We know how to end homelessness, so why haven't we done so already?

Since the early 2000s, Scotland has been lauded internationally for its approach to homelessness, enacting legislation in 2012 so that anyone who became homeless was given the right to assistance. However, while the policies have been celebrated, when it comes to practice on the ground the impact of the law becomes marred by insufficient budgets and resourcing to eradicate homelessness.

Earlier this year the Scottish Government removed the legal requirement for local authorities to assess whether a person was intentionally or unintentionally homeless. Instead giving councils discretion to determine if the causes of homelessness should limit an individual’s access to a home.

Without applying an intentionality test, everyone who applies and is found to be homeless would be entitled to a permanent home, which the local authority would have a duty to find. It is right that we seek to support those who becomes homeless regardless of the circumstances surrounding their situation, however in a time of budget cuts and shrinking resources, it is unfortunately unlikely that local authorities will be able to ignore intentionality if there is not a duty to assess for it.

Over the last two years we have seen not only a rise in the numbers of homelessness applications from 35,573 to 36,465, but in 2018/19 more than 1,500 household were considered to be intentionally homeless. Concurrently changes in welfare and the roll-out of Universal Credit over the last few years have further increased the risk of homelessness and the pressure on our already over-stretched housing system.

New Rapid Re-housing Transition Plans, where local authorities set out the specific steps they will take to reduce time spent in temporary accommodation and to move people rapidly into settled accommodation have given a welcome focus to homelessness reduction. This is especially true at a time when applications are rising and children are spending longer in temporary accommodation.

However, the reality is that the provision of various new legislation, plans for partnership working, and policy initiatives can only go so far by themselves.

While recent announcements from the Scottish Government regarding funding to support eradicating homelessness is welcome, ultimately it is not enough.  

If we are to end homelessness, we need to invest more money in the services on the frontline, and back up our policies with the means to be able to deliver their aims.  This means building more social housing, investing in support staff and prioritising homelessness prevention.

Despite the divisions across the country we can all agree that children spending over half a year in temporary accommodation and not having a settled stable home of their own is shameful. We need to do more to help everyone who is homeless.

Put yourself in their shoes: how would you feel if you were made homeless, forced to stay with friends for months on end, with no stability for you or your children or worse yet you end up living on the street?

So, as we move into 2020 and decision makers reflect over their next set of priorities, we must make this the year we put in the resources to not just end but prevent homelessness. Without this investment, come Christmas 2030 there will still be people sleeping on our streets and children living without a home.  

So yes, we are lauded for our efforts in trying end homelessness, but we are always trying to end homelessness. We need to stop this roundabout and be celebrated for finally ending it once and for all.