On behalf of the Homelessness Prevention and Strategy Group, the Scottish Government will publish a high-level Ending Homelessness Together Action Plan before the end of 2018. This will set out how we will enact the recommendations made by the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Action Group earlier this year, turning ambition into reality; to improve the lives of people at risk of homelessness and rough sleeping and end homelessness in Scotland.

During the group’s last meeting, Homelessness Prevention Strategy Group members discussed how it is essential we address all elements of homelessness, which includes tackling the root causes, such as poverty and adverse childhood experiences. They also made it clear that in addition to homelessness and housing services, we need partners across services including health, education, social work, justice and community support to recognise and act when people they work with are at risk of homelessness.

The Ending Homelessness Together Action Plan will be underpinned by an Outcomes Framework that public and third sector services can get behind. Jon Sparkes, chief executive of Crisis summarised the thinking behind this in his recent Fairer Scotland guest blog: that everyone has a safe, warm home that suits their needs and, homelessness is ended.

It’s just over a year since Housing Minister, Kevin Stewart announced the membership and remit of the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Action Group. We have developed a Progress Update to summarise what’s been delivered since then as well some of the key next steps we are taking with local authorities, third sector and other partners to prevent, tackle and end homelessness. It’s important for us to make sure everyone knows what is happening and can see their place in this work, so we hope readers will share this in their own organisations and networks. We look forward to providing further updates soon.