Temporary Accommodation Task and Finish Group: final report and recommendations

Appendix 1: Remit and membership

The Temporary Accommodation Task and Finish Group will consider how Scotland can turn the dial on the statistics with the aim of reducing the number of people living in temporary accommodation and the length of time they stay there.

All local authorities have rapid rehousing transition plans (RRTPs), which aim to reduce reliance on temporary accommodation (TA) as people are supported to keep the home they have or are placed into suitable permanent homes more quickly.

The group will consider existing good practice and learn from councils who are transforming the use of TA such as Perth and Kinross and those that have turned around challenges to provide TA such as Glasgow City Council.

It will assess what further ambition is required from RRTPs to transform the use of temporary accommodation, particularly for households with children. As part of its deliberations, the group will take account of the recommendations in the Improving housing outcomes for women and children experiencing domestic abuse report.

The group will consider how it can engage with the Shared Accommodation Task and Finish Group which will consider what models of temporary and permanent accommodation will best meet the needs of people with multiple and complex needs.

The group will review other factors that impact on the use of temporary accommodation, including charging practices and affordability concerns, and identify any perverse incentives that may exist in current policy. To inform the discussion on funding models, the group will wish to take note of the recent Legal Services Agency report on temporary accommodation charges and the final report of the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Action Group. The recent Homeless Action Scotland report on Exclusion of People in Work from Homeless Services is also of interest.

Membership of the group

• Alison Watson, Co-Chair (Shelter Scotland)
• John Mills, Co-Chair (ALACHO and Fife Council)
• Alice Tooms-Moore, Secretariat for the group (Shelter Scotland)
• David Pentland (Scottish Government)
• Janine Kellett (Scottish Government)
• Karen Grieve (Scottish Government)
• Louise Thompson (Scottish Government)
• Sara White (Scottish Government)
• Aaliya Seyal (Legal Services Agency (LSA))
• Alison Kennedy (Change Team)
• David Kidd (Homeless Network Scotland)
• Emma Doyle (Public Health Scotland)
• Faith Ougham (Change Team)
• Gary Quinn (Glasgow City Council)
• Gavin Yates (Homeless Action Scotland)
• Gordon MacRae (Shelter Scotland)
• Heather McCluskey (Centre for Homelessness Impact, CHI)
• Janeine Barrett (North Ayrshire)
• Ligia Teixeira (Centre for Homelessness Impact, (CHI))
• Mike Callaghan (COSLA)
• Nicky Brown (City of Edinburgh Council)
• Ruth Robin (i-hub)
• Ruth Whatling (Homeless Network Scotland)
• Sarah Walters (Crisis)
• Tyler Cary (Change Team)