A range of programmes across Scotland will benefit, helping people especially during winter who are rough sleeping and often have backgrounds of significant trauma.

The funding is in addition to the significant amount of money which local authorities receive from the Scottish Government to support people experiencing homelessness. 

The money, from the Ending Homelessness Together fund, will support:

• flexible emergency funding so frontline workers can provide immediate help to people at risk of rough sleeping in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen
• additional emergency beds for the Bethany night shelter in Edinburgh
• an additional link worker for Edinburgh to support people moving through emergency accommodation into mainstream housing
• information resources in other languages so people who do not speak English are made aware of the help available
• support for rough sleeping outreach services in Ayrshire to meet the challenges of providing effective support in a rural area

The programmes build on the success of projects from previous years, a number of which are now being delivered year-round by local authorities in cooperation with third sector organisations, including the production of new resilience plans for crises like heavy snow.

Announcing the funding on World Homeless Day, housing minister Kevin Stewart, said: “The truth is people experiencing rough sleeping will have backgrounds of significant trauma including domestic abuse, adverse childhood experiences, bereavement, mental and physical ill-health and substance use.

“This extra support will help local authorities and organisations on the frontline working tirelessly to safeguard people in crisis with nowhere left to turn.

“Outreach workers will be able to spend more time building relationships with the people they see, concentrating on offering effective support which takes account of each person’s circumstances.

“The final goal remains ending homelessness altogether, however in the shorter term it is important we work hard this winter to provide the right type of support for people who are at risk of experiencing the worst forms of homelessness.”

Funding breakdown