Homelessness Prevention and Strategy Group minutes: 14 September 2023

Attendees and apologies

Attendees

• Cllr Maureen Chalmers, Community Wellbeing Spokesperson, COSLA (Co-chair)
• Paul McLennan, Minister for Housing (Co-chair)
• Mike Callaghan, COSLA
• John Mills, ALACHO
• Alison Watson, Shelter Scotland
• Matt Downie, Crisis UK
• Lorraine McGrath, Simon Community Scotland
• Maggie Brunjes, Homeless Network Scotland
• Aaliya Seyal, Legal Services Agency
• Ruth Robin, Healthcare Improvement Scotland
• Susie Fitton on behalf of Sally Thomas, Scottish Federation of Housing Associations
• Pat Togher on behalf of Susanne Millar, Glasgow Health and Social Care Partnership
• Shea Moran, Aff the Streets
• Martin Boyle, Change Team
• Kate Polson, the Rock Trust
• Jules Oldham, Scottish Women’s Aid
• Angela Keith, SOLACE
• Ewan Aitken, Cyrenians

Also in attendance

• Jack Taylor, Scottish Government
• Janine Kellett, Scottish Government
• Karen Grieve, Scottish Government
• Abbie Darge, Scottish Government
• Louise Thompson, Scottish Government
• Pamela McBride, Scottish Government
• Matthew Howarth, Scottish Government
• Lesley Moorhouse, Scottish Government

Apologies

• Janice Stevenson, LGBT Youth
• Sally Thomas, Scottish Federation of Housing Associations
• Susanne Millar, Glasgow HSCP

Items and actions

Welcome

Cllr Maureen Chalmers welcomed everyone to the group and confirmed that the group was content with the minute of the last meeting.

Presentation of the Prevention Task and Finish Group’s final report

Matt Downie and Ewan Aitken presented on the report and recommendations of the Prevention Task and Finish Group. Prevention is the lever to turn the tide on high numbers in the homelessness system. A final report has been published with 20 actions sitting under five priority areas: cross-sector culture change; recognition of the importance of a home; clarity on legislation; continuous cross-sector reflective practice and cross-sector, long term, resourcing.

Discussion in response to the final report

Cllr Maureen Chalmers thanked Matt Downie and Ewan Aitken and shared that the report will go to the COSLA Housing Convener Group on 3 October 2023.

John Mills stressed the importance of understanding which public bodies the duties will apply to and that resourcing will be difficult, so clarity is essential.

Alison Watson and Aaliya Seyal highlighted the need to understand the order in which we do things and to learn from past challenges. Alison Watson said the most important thing was to fast track supply to clear the backlog of households in temporary accommodation.  Discussion around the need for clarity on ‘ask and act’ and what this will mean in all settings followed. Aaliya Seyal raised the risk of data sharing when it comes to immigration status. Whilst it is useful to connect data, we need to avoid any unintended consequences.

Maggie Brunjes stressed the need for a read across from Strategic Housing Investment Plans to other housing plans (e.g. rapid rehousing transition plans and housing need and demand assessments).

Jules Oldham added the need to make sure the Istanbul Convention and Human Rights Bill are considered.

Lorraine McGrath highlighted the need to ensure frontline staff are prepared for the change with appropriate training.

Pat Togher said he was not concerned about ‘ask’ but more concerned about ‘act’. He said the fact that homelessness is not being included in the National Care Service is a missed opportunity. The separation of homelessness and the health and social care system undermines what we are trying to do on prevention. Ruth Robin noted the opportunity to set out what ‘act’ means in health settings and to link into the data work ongoing to avoid an increased stream of referrals to local authorities.

Kate Polson proposed the use of examples or illustrations to show what the homelessness prevention duties could mean, why they are relevant and what it means if things are done differently.

Paul McLennan raised the need to consider how we can act now rather than wating for the legislation to be in place and requested that MD and EA come to the Ministerial Oversight Group to present on the importance of  preventing homelessness.

Actions:

• feedback from the Ministerial Oversight Group at the next meeting of HPSG
• slides from prevention presentation and list of members of the Ministerial Oversight Group to be shared with HPSG

Group updates

Task and Finish Groups

• temporary Accommodation: intense programme of engagement so far with PM meeting with Housing Conveners across the country to discuss challenges; colleagues are preparing guidance on the National Acquisition Plan
• measuring Progress: last meeting (late July) they were considering draft indicators for embedding a person-centred approach
• supported Accommodation: last met 27 July and next meeting will be 2 October

Housing Review Group

Group will be concluding this month with a report going to Mr McLennan thereafter. Report will set out a response to the SOLACE recommendations in July to rebalance the Scottish housing market and seek to respond to emerging pressures. Including additional homelessness pressures.

Cllr Maureen Chalmers shared that the work of the Housing Review Group will be discussed at the COSLA Housing Conveners meeting at the beginning of October.

RRTP update

Discussion around the MAT 8 standards, subgroup recognises the need for greater integration between the RRTP and alcohol and drugs partnerships. Local connection impact is not great in numbers, but rural local authorities will see greater impact. Concern around funding for RRTPs and the loss of knowledge as contracts end.

Change Team update

Change Team met with Paul McLennan to discuss future priorities and the implementation of prevention duties. Change Team have recently recruited and are sitting at about 30 members.

Actions:

• housing review group update to be shared with members
• item on lived experience at future meeting of HPSG
• how actions from the task and finish groups will work together to be explored at next HPSG meeting

Any other business

Lorraine McGrath raised a concern around winter planning and felt that we might be overlooking the opportunity to discuss the planning for the winter pressures.