Progress on homelessness in Scotland at risk if ‘rapid rehousing’ funding is not renewed, reports warn

RRTPs were initially introduced to cover a five-year period from 2019 to 2024 with dedicated funding from the Scottish government to support implementation. 

However, there is no assurance from the government that this initiative will continue after next year.

The reports also suggest an RRTP monitoring framework with input from a steering group and local authorities across Scotland to monitor their effectiveness across local authorities. 

The two reports are published today, the first day of Scotland’s Housing Festival, organised by the CIH. 

Gavin Smith, chair of CIH Scotland and service manger at Fife Council, said: “Recent media coverage of the Scottish government statistics bulletin confirms the extreme pressures local authorities and homelessness services are facing, but the research confirms that there is very positive progress being made and now is not the time to lose focus.

“There is no doubt that we need to increase housing supply, but we also need to support the positive progress that is being made in developing transformational change and monitor the impact as the RRTP journey continues.”

Ashley Campbell, policy and practice manager at CIH Scotland, said: “Through a global pandemic and cost of living crisis, local authorities have shown what can be achieved with creativity, flexibility and dedicated resources – but there is still more to do. 

“If the Scottish government is to realise its ambition to end homelessness in Scotland, we need to keep the momentum going and continue to support local authorities to finish the work they started with RRTPs.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The Scottish Government continues to support local authorities with their rapid rehousing approaches, which includes Housing First. We are providing local authorities with £52.5 million for their Rapid Rehousing Transition Plans to support people into settled accommodation first before helping them with their longer-term needs.

“The rapid rehousing approach means prioritising prevention, and [RRTPs] play an important role as part of Scotland’s strategy to end homelessness. Alongside the encouraging progress local authorities are making with the implementation of their Rapid Rehousing Transition Plans, we are also providing them with
£30.5 million for their work to prevent and respond to homelessness.

“The Scottish Government provided funding of over £5.5 million for the Housing First pathfinder programme, which resulted in the successful scaling up of Housing First nationally.”