The transition to Rapid Rehousing and Housing First in line with Scotland’s Health and Social Care Delivery Plan is built on providing wrap-around support tailored to the particular needs of an individual for as long as required. This includes treatment, when care and support are provided in a community setting minimising and shortening times spent in residential settings. The priority is to get people into their own homes in local communities as quickly as possible and appropriate and ensure people are at the centre of all decisions that affect them, including health and social care.

To support the development and implementation of Rapid Rehousing Transition Plans a Cross-Ministerial letter to Chief Executives and Chief Officers of all Health Boards, Local Authorities and Health and Social Care Partnerships across Scotland was sent in April 2019 by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport and the Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning.

The letter seeks collaboration and shared leadership between Housing and Health on Rapid Rehousing Transition Plans to ensure that at a local level services work together to ensure that services work for people who may have difficulty engaging with services as they are traditionally managed.

In Glasgow, those individuals who moved into Housing First after the decommissioning of Clyde Place, are supported by the Salvation Army. The support The Salvation Army provide is underpinned by trauma informed practice and harm reduction approaches and in line with the principles above is first and foremost tailored to the aspirations of the individual.

Specialist Support workers work with other partners to provide a one-to-one assessment for the individual, which will determine how much support is required to sustain their tenancy. This tailored package can include health related interventions, addictions, benefits & financial management, tenancy and life skills, employment and meaningful activity. Specialised support can also be accessed from statutory services and The Salvation Army provides access to pastoral support. Their network community facilities in churches and hubs throughout Scotland are places where individuals can go and engage within an established community network, which can provide opportunities for volunteering or work experience.

Andrew McCall, Regional Manager (Scotland) for the Salvation Army, said: “The Salvation Army are a key provider of Housing First Services in Scotland. We are currently commissioned by Glasgow Health and Social Care Partnership (GHSCP), in partnership with the Wheatley Group and Social Bite to provide 75 units of Housing First accommodation and offer intensive support to those with experience of sustained and recurrent periods of rough sleeping and repeat homelessness.

“In 2018, as part of the Pathfinder programme, consortia were established in Dundee, Glasgow, Aberdeen/shire, Edinburgh and Stirling to provide Housing First Services. The Salvation Army are proud to be a pivotal member of the consortia delivering these services in both Glasgow & Dundee.”

Housing First sits within a broader rapid rehousing framework and the Salvation Army have established a successful rapid re-housing pilot at The Pleasance in Edinburgh in conjunction with City of Edinburgh Council: more information on the Salvation Army’s work in Scotland here.

This article forms part of a special edition of Scottish Housing News dedicated entirely to the Housing First Scotland annual conference next week with contributions from partners making Housing First happen across Scotland. See all articles here.