Ruth Whatling

Ms Whatling joins Homelessness Network Scotland on a two-year secondment from the Scottish Government’s Homelessness Team and with two decades of public sector experience including equality, policy and public administration roles in the Civil Service.

She said: “Having seen the work of Homeless Network Scotland from an external perspective, I am excited to see up close the collaborative way of working that the organisation is known and respected for – finding a way through those obstinate problems that get in the way of what works.

“One of the attributes Homeless Network Scotland possesses is credibility and trust, a reputation for delivering that incentivises partner organisations and others to engage and participate to find solutions.

“The leading role of lived experience in informing and guiding Homeless Network Scotland’s work also impressed me. It is clear that expertise by experience sits at the heart of everything we do in a really meaningful way.”

A key focus for Ruth is equality. Ruth Whatling added: “I am looking forward to supporting local authorities and partners understand what’s needed and what can be achieved when we all pull in one direction. The legislation is there and part of the challenge is about illustrating what we mean by equality – what it looks like.

“We all have a role in breaking the ‘big’ issue down into smaller chunks that really mean something to people in ordinary workplace settings. True equality is about understanding people’s needs as an individual and having a vision of how to meet those needs in the way we provide services and address disadvantage.”

Building on the Prevention Review Group report and new public sector prevention duties, another area of interest will be the increasingly high-profile prevention agenda, which is a key strand of work for Homeless Network Scotland, local authorities and third sector organisations.

“Prevention and equality share a characteristic, both must be applied while also doing the day job,” said Ruth. “We can’t switch to real equality overnight. Similarly, prioritising prevention rather than responding to a problem after it has happened is a process. Part of our role is to support the great work already underway across the country by sharing learning and facilitating effective and meaningful partnerships.”