Fairer Scotland

  • Changing negative perceptions of rough sleeping and homelessness – guest blog from the Simon Community

    20th August 2019 by

    simon community

    Megan Thomson manages the Simon’s Community’s RSVP Street Team service in Glasgow.  Here she talks about changing negative perceptions of rough sleeping and homelessness, and how the Simon Community is making a difference to people’s lives.  Simon Community Scotland Street Team are out on the streets of Glasgow 365 days of the year, working with...

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  • Housing First – Adam’s story

    17th July 2019 by

    Adam is a bright, articulate and funny 37 year old man who has been homeless on and off for the past seven years. He is great company and has a warm and caring personality. He has, however, been through a very traumatic time that he still finds difficult to talk about. When asked about his...

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  • Historic opportunity to end homelessness in Scotland for good

    27th June 2019 by

    Guest blog from Jon Sparkes, Chief Executive, Crisis Twelve months ago, in June 2018, I was working closely with colleagues from the Scottish Government’s Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Action Group to finalise our report on ending homelessness in Scotland. We had worked intensively from October 2017 to answer 4 questions: How to reduce rough sleeping...

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  • Guest Blog: Alasdair Bennett, Bethany Christian Trust

    29th March 2019 by

    Bethany Care Shelter fixed venue New raised beds and comfy mattresses!  New fixed 32 week venue!  We are so thankful to be at Diadem, part of Gorgie Dalry Stenhouse Church in Edinburgh.  Our larger single venue also has laundry, showers and new toilet facilities. This is desperately needed with over 70 people a night given...

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  • Guest blog: Phil Wray, Head of Projects at Glasgow City Mission

    5th February 2019 by

    Working together to tackle rough sleeping Most of us have had the heart-rending experience of walking through a city on a cold winter morning past a figure in a sleeping bag tucked into a doorway. None of us wants a Scotland where this happens. In 2010, Glasgow City Mission established the Glasgow Winter Night Shelter,...

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  • Breaking down barriers to end homelessness – by Kevin Stewart MSP

    1st February 2019 by

    Everyone should have a secure warm place to call home – it’s one of the most important factors in any person’s quality of life. Our Ending Homelessness Together Action Plan sets the direction for real and lasting change. As part of this, we have just launched a consultation on the current local connection and intentionality...

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  • A Visit to Glasgow’s Winter Night Shelter

    31st December 2018 by

    I want Scotland to be a place where no-one faces the dangerous prospect of sleeping rough and where everyone has a place they can call home.  Over the last year we have put in place a number of measures – both practical and financial – to make sure we do everything we can to protect...

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  • Winter actions on rough sleeping – Kevin Stewart, Housing Minister

    16th August 2018 by

    I want Scotland to be a place where no-one needs to sleep rough and where everyone has place they can call home. This holds true no matter what time of year. But as we publish a summary report on the 2017-18 Winter Initiative and the improved outcomes this achieved for people at risk, my thoughts...

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  • Learning from others: Kevin Stewart, Housing Minister

    20th July 2018 by

    It is unacceptable that anyone in a country like Scotland should find themselves homeless and I believe everyone needs a safe place they can call home. Everybody found to be homeless in Scotland is entitled to settled housing, yet still too many people struggle to access the accommodation and the services they need. That’s why...

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  • Transforming the use of Temporary Accommodation: Housing Minister, Kevin Stewart

    1st June 2018 by

    Ending rough sleeping and homelessness are national priorities for this Government as part of our drive to create a fairer Scotland. There has been a 40% fall in homelessness applications since 2010 and that is largely due to the innovative and person centred approaches being taken across the country. Where homelessness does occur, Scotland has...

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