Protect, Scale, Shift

MORE than 40 leading organisations, including Transform Community Development, have urged the new Scottish Government to put joined up working at the heart of its response to the housing and homelessness emergency.

The Everyone Home Collective has welcomed the First Minister’s commitment to a cross-government approach, saying it presents a genuine opportunity to drive lasting progress on homelessness if backed by decisive action within the Government’s first 100 days.

In its expert advice, Protect, Scale, Shift, the coalition, which brings together frontline services, the national lived experience platform and academic partners, argues that sustained reductions in homelessness will only come through strong joined-up leadership nationally and locally, alongside action to tackle the root causes of poverty and Scotland’s chronic shortage of affordable housing.

The coalition says housing justice must become a central priority for the new administration, with stronger accountability, faster delivery of social housing and better coordination between housing, health, social care and justice services.

Maggie Brünjes, Chief Executive of Homeless Network Scotland said: “We strongly welcome the First Minister’s priority on a joined-up government. Too often, siloed services intensify disadvantage, widen inequality and drive-up public costs. By raising the floor for people facing the hardest challenges – with stable housing, adequate incomes and coordinated support, we raise the floor for everyone.

"Resolving record levels of homelessness requires tackling root causes at scale, not short-term fixes, reclassifying cases or gaming definitions to improve headline numbers. We need a binding commitment to sustainable, joined-up solutions.”

Campaigners warn that without a substantial increase in housing supply, wider efforts around homelessness prevention and rapid rehousing will continue to fall short.

Ms Brünjes said: “We are concerned that the enormous Social Justice and Housing portfolio has once again been assigned to a single Cabinet Secretary rather than a dedicated Housing Secretary. While the joined-up ambition is positive, the sheer size of the brief risks weakening focus on the housing and homelessness emergency.”

The Protect, Scale, Shift briefing sets out clear priorities across housing supply, prevention, rapid rehousing and joined-up services, including:

• Delivery of at least 15,693 new social and affordable homes every year throughout the parliamentary term, backed by clear targets and accountability for the new More Homes Scotland agency.
• Stronger homelessness prevention through a public health approach and better alignment across housing, health, social care and justice.
• A renewed national commitment to Rapid Rehousing to reduce time spent in temporary accommodation and close the gap between policy ambition and lived reality.
• National expansion of Housing First and transformation of supported housing for people with the most complex needs.
• Robust cross-Government and cross-portfolio oversight to ensure genuinely joined-up working and accountability.

Ms Brünjes added: “Too much public money is spent responding to crisis after it has already happened. We know what works.

“The challenge now is closing the gap between Scotland’s progressive policies and the reality facing individuals and families. More homes, rapid rehousing and preventative, joined-up services offer the path to better lives and better value for public resources.”

The advice briefing also calls for the return of a cross-ministerial oversight group in Parliament, mirrored by a cross-portfolio structure within Government, to ensure housing policy is properly aligned with wider public services.

The full briefing document can be found here