Homelessness

Alison Watson A new service is to offer support for members of the Gypsy Traveller community in the Forth Valley in an effort to relieve poverty and stop them becoming homeless.

Mark Giles, personnel manager of Waitrose Morningside, awarding the £19k cheque to Isobel Alford, community development worker from Bethany Christian Trust Grocery store chain Waitrose has awarded over £19,000 to Edinburgh-based homeless charity Bethany Christian Trust in an effort to prevent and

The prototype of a home which will be built in a new Social Bite village for the homeless in Edinburgh is on show in St Andrews Square during the Edinburgh Festival. The home was designed by architect Jonathan Avery from Tiny House Scotland, which builds environmentally friendly micro-houses designe

The number of people experiencing the worst forms of homelessness is expected to rise by 50% on current levels over next 25 years, according to a new report by Crisis. There are currently 11,800 people across Scotland either sleeping rough, staying in hostels, living in unsuitable temporary accommod

Fresh Start Borders was set up in 2009, with support from Scottish Churches Housing Action, whose administrator Lauren Forbes reports on a visit to the charity last month to see how things were going. “Thank you very much – tears in my eyes!”

Aberdeen City Council has spent more than £7 million on temporary accommodation for homeless people over the last year, the Evening Express has reported. The figures obtained in a Freedom of Information request show that £7.3m was spent placing homeless people in temporary accommodation in the cit

Young people and private renters are disproportionately affected by a “terrible shortage” of affordable homes in Scotland, according to a new report. Figures from Shelter Scotland’s ‘Impact Report’ have highlighted that a shortage of affordable homes, welfare reform and stagnant wages have

Robert Aldridge Scotland’s national membership organisation for homelessness has announced a significant change as chief executive of almost 20 years Robert Aldridge retires from Homeless Action Scotland.

Terrie Alafat The latest benefit cap statistics released by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) show there is a need for the UK government to re-look at welfare policies, the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) has said.

Beggars and rough sleepers in Glasgow city centre are damaging trade and putting shoppers off visiting the city, according to a leading Scottish business figure. Stuart Patrick, chief executive of Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, said there had been an undeniable rise in begging and the number of rough

Jeremy Balfour MSP lodged a Parliamentary Motion commending a charity who received £100K of National Lottery cash to help homeless people in Edinburgh last week. The Edinburgh homelessness charity, Gowrie Care, and the people they support are set to benefit from a National Lottery award from the Bi

It has recently been suggested that we stop saying “homelessness can happen to anyone” because it somehow obscures the real risk factors and prevents those in power from tackling big structural issues. Shelter Scotland media officer Susie Rose reflects on when homelessness happened to her. These

Housing and homelessness charity Shelter Scotland is renewing its commitment to Glasgow by growing its city centre presence. The Shelter Scotland Glasgow Community Hub moves to its new home at 116 Osborne Street today after 11 years at offices in Sauchiehall Street.

Architects in Ireland have raised €124,000 for homeless people by giving free consultations in exchange for donations. In one week, 191 members of the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI) completed 1,366 one hour consultations with the public for a donation of €90, every cent of w

Homeless people in Oxford who keep possessions in doorways have been warned they face fines of up to £2,500. Legal notices have been attached to the belongings of rough sleepers outside a city centre shop warning that prosecution could follow if the items were not removed.