Advertisement
Housing

Social Bite has launched a £3 million Housing First fund for rough sleepers

The project aims to bring 800 rough sleepers to long-term tenancies by 2020

Scottish social enterprise Social Bite has been busy in recent months – hosting a sleep-out, booking appointments with royalty and opening its own village for the homeless – and now it’s launched a programme to boost Housing First in Scotland.

The Edinburgh-based organisation teamed up with Glasgow Homeless Network (GHN) and charitable trust Corra Foundation for the £3 million plan – where rough sleepers are given a permanent home alongside specialised support.

It is hoped that the fund will help 800 rough sleepers across Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Stirling and Dundee local authority areas over a two-year period between August 2018 and July 2020.

Homeless people will be offered a much-needed secure and support long-term tenancy from housing associations and local authorities with support for mental health, addiction or other needs.

The single largest commitment has come from the Wheatley Group, which has pledged up to 250 homes across Edinburgh and Glasgow.

“Housing First means that home is the best foundation from which to address any other challenges or disadvantages people face. It means safety and security, and a fresh opportunity for people to build and live their lives as part of a community,” said Josh Littlejohn, co-founder for Social Bite.

Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty
Advertisement

“We have an incredible opportunity here to support 800 people off the streets and into mainstream accommodation with support. I would like to thank the 8,000 people that slept out last December and raised so much money, if it wasn’t for them, this simply wouldn’t be happening.”

The Social Bite chief is joined on Scotland’s Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Action Group by GHN CEO Margaret Ann Brunjes and she has thrown her support behind Housing First.

“The success of this programme will depend on the very best support being provided by the very best support workers,” she said. “With a very small caseload, the Housing First approach will be personalised and persistent, flexible and asset-based – getting right alongside people to help them make their house a home.”

Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty

Never miss an issue

Take advantage of our special subscription offer. Subscribe from just £9.99 and never miss an issue.

Recommended for you

Read All
Mum-of-two shares experience of 'dehumanising' DWP benefits system: 'It could kill somebody'
Image of Naomi Lihou
Benefits

Mum-of-two shares experience of 'dehumanising' DWP benefits system: 'It could kill somebody'

UK's 'cruel' benefits system is 'ruining lives' and 'violating human rights', Amnesty report finds
keir starmer walking
Benefits

UK's 'cruel' benefits system is 'ruining lives' and 'violating human rights', Amnesty report finds

Widower of disabled woman in bitter, years-long legal battle after DWP denied him benefits
Department for Work and Pensions

Widower of disabled woman in bitter, years-long legal battle after DWP denied him benefits

Transphobia and homophobia are terrible for the economy, report finds
London Trans+ Pride
LGBTQ+ rights

Transphobia and homophobia are terrible for the economy, report finds

Most Popular

Read All
Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits
Renters: A mortgage lender's window advertising buy-to-let products
1.

Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal
Pound coins on a piece of paper with disability living allowancve
2.

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over
next dwp cost of living payment 2023
3.

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over

Citroën Ami: the tiny electric vehicle driving change with The Big Issue
4.

Citroën Ami: the tiny electric vehicle driving change with The Big Issue