Blogs
Martin Gavin: Deciding how to help might be ignoring the obvious
Homeless Network Scotland recently made over 1,000 cash payments of £100 to people affected by homelessness, thanks to the Scottish Government’s Wellbeing Fund, supported by SCVO and the Hunter Foundation. The one-off payment was available to households in temporary homelessness accommodation, or people who have recently taken on a Housing First tenancy. Martin Gavin, head of external relations at Homeless Network Scotland, explains how it came about.
Published 22 July 2020
Alex Orr: Planning for the capital’s development
Alex Orr considers a key planning document being proposed for Edinburgh and what it might mean for developers.
Published 22 July 2020
Scott Macphail: If we want the most from brownfield sites, we must provide the infrastructure to make it possible
Scott MacPhail on the importance of sewage systems in new housing developments.
Published 21 July 2020
Kevin Stewart: Renewed commitment to ending homelessness
Kevin Stewart MSP, minister for local government, housing and planning, outlines the Scottish Government's renewed commitment to ending homelessness.
Published 17 July 2020
Andrew Duncan: The importance of placemaking in a post-COVID world
Lockdown has shown the particular importance of community green spaces, says Andrew Duncan.
Published 17 July 2020
Craig Moule: Strength from diversity
Sanctuary Group chief executive of Craig Moule speaks openly about diversity in a statement following on from the tragic death of George Floyd.
Published 16 July 2020
Maddy Moore: Landmark court ruling declares housing benefit discrimination is unlawful
Maddy Moore responds to Shelter’s successful court case against blanket bans on renting properties to people on housing benefit.
Published 15 July 2020
Lauren Hazlie: Extension to the Additional Dwelling Supplement Tax reclaim period
Lauren Hazlie, property solicitor at Jones Whyte, details the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the housing market by discussing the extension to the Additional Dwelling Supplement Tax reclaim period.
Published 14 July 2020
Lila Angelaka: How to maintain your traditional tenement flat and communal areas
Scotland's tenements have a rich past, and their story can continue long into the future if cared for properly, says Lila Angelaka.
Published 13 July 2020
The Margaret Taylor Interview: Lorna Walker - Park Inn tragedy highlights the need for asylum seeker justice
When news broke in June that a Sudanese asylum seeker had been shot dead after stabbing six people in a Glasgow hotel there was an immediate public outcry. How, people wanted to know, could a system that is supposed to protect the vulnerable have allowed a man with obvious mental health difficulties to be put in a situation where his problems were sure to escalate.
Published 9 July 2020
David Kidd: Lived experience takes a seat at top table
Services supporting people experiencing or at risk of homelessness in Scotland’s biggest city will be transformed as the new Glasgow Alliance to End Homelessness takes the lead role in co-ordinating services and prevention work. One of the most important parts of the approach to many is that its work will involve, as equal partners, people with their own lived experience of homelessness. Change lead at Homeless Network Scotland, David Kidd, explains the process.
Published 9 July 2020
Callum Chomczuk: Housing providers must do more to support victims of domestic abuse
The UK Collaborative Centre for Housing Evidence (CaCHE) Scottish Knowledge Exchange Hub session on June 30 focused on the forthcoming domestic abuse and COVID-19 project. The participants in this subgroup had a range of backgrounds from across policy and practice, all with experience and interest in issues relating to domestic abuse. Callum Chomczuk captures some of what the participants discussed, particularly the challenges in domestic abuse policy before the pandemic, the current landscape and what the necessary policy inventions are coming out of the pandemic for landlords and policymakers.
Published 9 July 2020
Charles Maasz: Hospitality, asylum and distress
Charles Maasz, chief executive of Glasgow City Mission, reflects on the recent tragic events in Glasgow which saw a stabbing attack take place at the Park Inn Hotel.
Published 8 July 2020
Sabir Zazai: Stop treating people like pieces on a chessboard
Scottish Refugee Council CEO Sabir Zazai reveals anger over ‘abject failures’ of the Home Office and discusses how hostile asylum policies are out of touch with Scottish public opinion.
Published 7 July 2020
Sean McGinness: COVID-19 impact on land sales – way forward for landowners becoming clearer
Following the reopening of construction sites in Scotland, Sean McGinness believes the picture should start to become clearer for rural landowners who are in discussions with housebuilders and developers regarding potential new developments and land sales.
Published 7 July 2020
