In the face of particularly high demand, funding will be provided to offer more emergency beds for people at risk of sleeping rough in Edinburgh, providing more warm beds as well as an opportunity to provide people with targeted support.

Following on from the success of similar funding last year, £50,000 will be provided so frontline street teams across the country can immediately spend small amounts of money to help those that need it.

Simon Community Scotland will also get investment to develop a project that looks at options to enable homeless people with pets to access accommodation.

Housing minister Kevin Stewart said: “Last winter we experienced some of the harshest weather we have seen in a long time. Local authorities and organisations on the frontline work tirelessly all year round to help those on the streets, but this comes to a head in the winter to safeguard people in crisis from the cold.

“Today’s funding announcement will mean £918,000 in total has been spent on frontline outreach by the Scottish Government and third sector partners since November 2017. We’re focusing the money on expanding things that were proven to work last year as well as testing new approaches.

“We don’t want anybody to be homeless and the focus in our Ending Homelessness Together Action Plan is on supporting people into settled accommodation and homelessness prevention. However, we also want those that find themselves on the streets to have the support they need. This money will go towards projects that will make a real difference.”

Funding breakdown:

Intervention

Cost

Support for additional emergency beds in Edinburgh

£206,000

Additional frontline flexible funding

£50,000

Homelessness link worker for Edinburgh, to provide statutory homelessness services (e.g. assessments) in dispersed locations

£29,000

Best practice guide – strategies for people rough sleeping with pets

£5,000

Further funding for assertive outreach service in Aberdeen

£80,000

Total (from Ending Homelessness Together fund)

£370,000