Scottish Government
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Funding to prevent homelessness
£2.3 million to tackle housing issues.
Organisations which help homeless and vulnerable people find homes and live independently will get a funding boost next year, Housing Minister Margaret Burgess has announced.
More than £2.3 million will be allocated to 32 new and existing projects which make it easier for older and disabled people to live independently, will improve access to housing for homeless people and will support refugee, asylum seekers and new migrant communities.
Projects to benefit from the Housing Voluntary Grant Scheme in 2015-16, include Housing Options Scotland which will receive £242,000 to meet increased demand for its advice services for disabled people, older people and veterans.
Shelter Housing Law Service will be awarded £183,868 to provide specialist legal expertise on housing issues while the Scottish Refugee Council has been granted £130,000 for its work helping refugees adapt to life in Scotland.
Mrs Burgess said:
“It is heart-breaking that in a country as prosperous as Scotland some people do not have the support they need to help them live as independently as they can and fulfil their potential.
“I am pleased this £2.3 million fund will be split between organisations that are addressing these inequalities, and supporting some of the most vulnerable people in our communities.
“This Government is clear, we want to provide opportunities for people to flourish and we recognise that a lack of suitable housing can be a major barrier preventing them from achieving their full potential.
“Whether it’s through working with the elderly, veterans, young people or asylum seekers, each of these 32 projects is closing this inequality gap, and tackling prejudice and discrimination.”
Moira Bayne, the chief executive officer of Housing Options Scotland welcomed the funding support. She said:
"In 2014 Housing Options Scotland was able to help over 400 disabled people, older people and armed forces veterans to find the Right House in the Right Place.
“None of this would have been possible without the financial support of the Scottish Government.
“Thanks to this funding we have been able to help a wide range of people including a visually impaired teenager in the Scottish Borders who has had his family home extended to maximise his independence and a young former RAF officer with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder who has now returned to live near her son in Morayshire.
“We are absolutely delighted with the funding we have been awarded for 2015. We are mindful of how privileged we are to be offered such support in such difficult times and we look forward to helping many more people in the coming year.”
The Glasgow Simon Community and Positive Steps are two projects that will receive funding for the first time in 2015.
Through £90,975 funding Positive Steps will give training to men who have a history of re-offending and homelessness.
Cathryn Mill, development officer with Positive Steps said:
“Funding through the Housing Voluntary Grant Scheme will allow Positive Steps to deliver and implement a significant test of change project.
“Dundee in particular suffers from high levels of reconviction rates that present issues related to homelessness.
“The proposed project will target short term persistent offending and the lack of access to secure accommodation. We will also offer targeted support to address offending behaviours.”
Notes To Editors
An Audioboom clip of the Housing Minister is available to use: https://audioboom.com/boos/2745068
Grants are awarded to support existing services provided by national organisations while funds for new or innovative projects are available to local organisations.
Further information on applying for the Housing Voluntary Grant Scheme is available here:http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Built-Environment/Housing/access/grants/HVGschemeintro
Organisations to benefit in 2015/16:
|
Organisation |
Based
|
Proposed funding 2015-16 |
Project Summary |
|
Age Scotland |
Edinburgh |
£126,250 |
To provide information and advice to older people to help them maintain their independence. |
|
Capability Scotland/ |
Edinburgh/ |
£48,000 |
To support disabled people by improving their knowledge and skills, making it easier for them to find accessible housing. |
|
Bethany Christian Trust |
Edinburgh |
£44,000 |
Funding for homelessness projects including literacy and numeracy, budgeting support, employment and volunteering, and street work. |
|
Borderline |
London |
£56,437 |
Project to assist Scottish homeless people, and those threatened with homelessness in London |
|
CRISIS (project 1) |
Edinburgh |
£26,000 |
The project to help improve access to the Private Rented Sector for homeless people in Scotland. |
|
CRISIS – (project 2) |
Edinburgh |
£52,943 |
Tenancy support project which works with people in shared housing. |
|
Community Resource Network Scotland (CRNS) |
Glasgow |
£31,267 |
Project to encourage and support arrangements between housing suppliers and furniture reuse projects. |
|
Housing Support Enabling Unit (HSEU) |
Edinburgh |
£120,640 |
Assisting providers in the voluntary, private and registered social landlord sectors. |
|
Legal Services Agency |
Glasgow |
£43,944 |
To provide legal advice on repossessions, and representation at court for those threatened with repossession. |
|
Move On Ltd |
Edinburgh |
£25,000 |
Project helping young people at threat of homelessness through peer support. |
|
Housing Options Scotland |
Edinburgh |
£242,000 |
Provides tailored housing advice to disabled people, older people and veterans. |
|
Glasgow Centre for Inclusive |
Glasgow |
£51,000 |
Project to develop a database matching disabled people to suitable adapted housing. |
|
Glasgow Simon |
Glasgow |
£13,354 |
New national project to identify vacant non-residential properties and enable them to be re-designed as social housing. |
|
Positive Action In Housing |
Glasgow |
£46,633 |
A casework service giving free, multilingual and culturally sensitive advice and information to people from refugee, asylum seeker and new migrant communities. |
|
PATH Scotland |
Glasgow |
£83,700 |
Training and education programme for black and ethnic minority and refugee communities. |
|
Positive Steps |
Dundee |
90,975 |
New project to support to men with a history of re-offending and homelessness. |
|
Princes Trust |
Glasgow |
£51,000 |
Funding for “Keys to Life” project which will engage with around 60 homeless people under 25 helping them develop the skills and confidence to successfully make the transition to independent living. |
|
Quarriers |
Glasgow |
£33,057 |
A project to open and improve dialogue between housing associations and young tenants. |
|
Rural Housing Partnership |
Inverness/Dumfries |
£180,000 |
To deliver housing support across rural communities in Scotland. |
|
SACRO |
Edinburgh |
£49,000 |
Dealing with neighbourhood conflict and promoting positive community relations. |
|
Say-Women |
Glasgow |
£65,826 |
Increase awareness of the housing needs of survivors of childhood sexual abuse. |
|
Scottish Churches Housing Action (project 1) |
Edinburgh |
£57,000 |
Project supporting a range of services and activities including starter packs and befriending networks. |
|
Scottish Churches Housing Action (project 2) |
Edinburgh |
£9,000 |
Prison leaver peer support project for HMP Edinburgh. Prisoners will be supported through housing, health, training and employment interviews following release. |
|
Scottish Housing & Support Conference |
Edinburgh |
£11,000 |
Funding for annual conference for service users and providers of housing support services. |
|
Scottish Refugee Council |
Glasgow |
£130,000 |
The project offers new refugees the opportunity to rebuild their lives in Scotland by offering a personalised service which promotes individual independence. |
|
Scottish Women’s Aid |
Edinburgh |
£67,345 |
Project focusses on homelessness and prevention of homelessness for women who are victims of domestic abuse. |
|
Homeless Action Scotland |
Edinburgh |
£164,000 |
Facilitates national homelessness networks and National Homelessness and Employability co-ordinator. |
|
Shelter Housing Law Service |
Edinburgh |
£183,868 |
To provide access to specialist legal expertise and representation on housing issues across Scotland |
|
Scottish Homelessness Involvement |
Glasgow |
£48,310 |
Project promotes service user involvement and helps professionals make better use of the expertise of the people using their services. |
|
Scottish Social Networks(Rock Trust) |
Edinburgh |
£30,721 |
To support the work of the Housing Option Hubs. In particular by raising awareness of the link between positive social networks and prevention of homelessness. |
|
Tenant Information Service (TIS)/ |
Glasgow |
£104,480 |
To continue development of tenant empowerment through Scottish Housing Regulator and the implementation of the Scottish Social Housing Charter. |
|
Venture Trust |
Edinburgh |
£60,437 |
Outward bound courses and wilderness training to improve the confidence of homeless young people to develop their independent living skills. |
Contact Information
SG Communications
Gillian Provan
