The arrival of winter weather this week is a chilling reminder that far too many people in Scotland are housed in unsuitable temporary accommodation, while others are forced to search for a warm space as an alternative to sleeping rough on bitterly cold nights.

Looking out over the main hall recently at the ‘Right Here, Right Now’ conference in Perth, organised by Homeless Network Scotland and co-sponsored by The Salvation Army, I was truly inspired by the collaborative environment around homelessness that exists in our country. We have seen countless examples of this, particularly during the Covid 19 emergency.

With this collaboration in place and some of the most progressive legislation in Europe, homelessness persists and too many people continue to experience the trauma and injustice that accompanies it. It struck me that what could be missing is a post-Covid call to action. In other words, what are we all going to ‘do’ that we are not doing now in order to reduce and prevent homelessness? That might include looking afresh at the people we are supporting and the changing profile of those seeking help.

The world is changing as is the range of people potentially affected by homelessness. Churches and community facilities run by The Salvation Army are meeting the needs of families, some of them working, who cannot afford basics like food, clothing, bedding and hygiene products. Our colleagues are connecting with people experiencing significantly more complex challenges than they were ten years ago. Self-scrutiny is essential; asking questions such as whether our responses today are designed for the problems we faced a decade ago? The Salvation Army’s new strategy for Homelessness Services is an approach that differs from previous ones in that it is a ten-year strategy. It recognises that, whilst we may find some ‘quick wins’ there is no ‘quick fix’.

• Podcast: The holistic approach to homelessness with Helen Murdoch and Janet Haugh

Success, however defined, requires sustainable solutions. That’s something Scotland has recognised and acted upon by rolling out Housing First nationally. Medium-term goals must remain in sharp focus so that we don’t fail people who are already in the system. Long-term planning such as Housing to 2040 provide a point on the horizon to keep in view. We must not lose sight of related issues outlined recently in our Breaking the Cycle report, launched at the Scottish Parliament in May. Applying our best research and practice to tackle some of the root causes such as poverty, poor mental health and addiction will have an impact over the long term.

Conferences such as ‘Right Here, Right Now’ are an opportunity for those of us in the sector to take stock and explore solutions, hear from people with their own lived experience of homelessness about what matters to them, share good practice or new ideas and understand the challenges faced by colleagues in partner organisations. This year’s event was confirmation of what we have achieved in Scotland over the past decade. In addition, the gathering reminded all in attendance that there is still much to do and above all reinforced what we know; progress comes only through working together. 

• Helen Murdoch is assistant director, strategic operations and development (Scotland) at The Salvation Army