It takes more than a set of keys to help someone out of homelessness – trust me, I know

Years ago, I supported a young man as he was leaving prison. I’d worked hard with him to get everything ready for his liberation – housing, benefits, paperwork. When I handed him the keys to his brilliant new home which was fully decorated, furnished and cosy, he broke down in tears.

I was totally shocked. What had I missed?  Everything was in place. Then I realised, he was scared. He told me it was the first time he’d ever been truly alone. From his time in care facilities as a child, through to young offenders’ units as they were then known, to prison. He had never been on his own.

Read more:

• Can modular housing help solve London’s homelessness crisis?
• Mark was homeless and sleeping in his car. Now he’s just graduated with a first-class degree
• Glasgow council knew this building was dangerous for years. Its collapse left people homeless

That moment shaped how I see homelessness. For some, a set of keys is all it takes. But for many, especially those with complex trauma, housing can feel like the end of one struggle and the beginning of another. Some people need much more than a roof. They need time, trust and someone to walk alongside them. They may need support for years, or even for life. That’s not a failure. It’s what a compassionate system should be built to provide.

I became a support worker in 2001, and more than two decades on, the challenges remain strikingly familiar. There’s no single solution to Scotland’s housing crisis, but we must be willing to learn from the past if we’re serious about building a better future.

At Blue Triangle, we’ve been supporting people across Scotland for 50 years. We’ve seen governments come and go, policies made and forgotten, and still homelessness remains. We welcome recent funding announcements from the UK government to build more social housing, but there are no targets, no timelines, and no clarity about what it means for Scotland, despite a housing emergency being declared more than 18 months ago.

Meanwhile, the numbers in temporary accommodation continue to grow. There are currently more than 16,600 households – and more than 10,000 children – living in temporary accommodation across Scotland. In Glasgow alone, more than 3,500 children are affected, more than the total number in all of Wales.

But here’s what those headlines miss: temporary accommodation isn’t inherently a bad thing. In fact, it’s a vital part of the solution. Blue Triangle is a temporary accommodation provider, and proud of it. We offer more than just a bed. We offer the support that helps people get back on their feet, regain confidence, and move forward with dignity. The real problem is when people get stuck in temporary accommodation for too long, without the right help, because the wider system isn’t working.

That system is under more pressure than ever. Recently, the UK government pressed ahead with increasing employers’ National Insurance contributions, even for social care and homelessness organisations, despite widespread calls for an exemption. The result is devastating. For a sector already stretched to its limits, this adds a £30 million burden in Scotland alone. It threatens frontline services, makes it harder to recruit and retain staff, and ultimately reduces the support available to people when they need it most.

At Blue Triangle, we’re doing everything we can to respond. We’ve launched an in-house counselling service, recognising that mental health and trauma recovery are central to preventing repeat homelessness. We’re investing in new housing, expanding services, and stepping in earlier to support people before they hit crisis point.

But we can’t keep plugging the gaps left by policy failure. Scotland needs leadership that goes beyond slogans and sticking plasters. We need a serious commitment to ending homelessness, not just managing it. That means real investment in trauma-informed support. It means recognising that some people need more than a home, they need healing. It also means understanding that for many, temporary accommodation can be a crucial stepping stone, as long as the right support is wrapped around it.

The question we must ask isn’t just whether someone needs a set of keys. It’s whether they have the tools, the care, and the confidence to use them, and what kind of life they’re stepping into when the door closes behind them.

Gary Meek is CEO of Blue Triangle.

Do you have a story to tell or opinions to share about this? Get in touch and tell us more. 

It’s helping people with disabilities. 

It’s creating safer living conditions for renters.

It’s getting answers for the most vulnerable.

Big Issue brings you trustworthy journalism that drives real change. 

If this article gave you something to think about, help us keep doing this work from £5 a month.