Social Bite's mass sleepout will help fund the new accommodation project
Two of Scotland’s biggest housing providers have announced they are to commit 475 properties to homeless people.
Around 275 permanent housing association and council homes are to be provided to homeless people in Edinburgh through the EdIndex Partnership, which is made up of representatives from the City of Edinburgh Council and 19 partner registered social landlords.
Wheatley Group, Scotland’s largest housing and care group, has committed to up to 200 homes for rough sleepers in Glasgow and the central belt.
The homes being provided by each organisation are in addition to their current allocation for homeless people.
With the 10 homes being created at the Social Bite Village in Granton this Spring, the total is taken to just under 500.
A significant amount of funding generated from the Social Bite Sleep in the Park event will go towards funding support for vulnerable people in their new accommodation.
Josh Littlejohn, co-founder of Social Bite, said: “What’s happening here is a real game changer and will allow us to collectively and collaboratively restructure the system. The Housing First model is statistically proven to be the single most effective homelessness intervention that we can do.
“It means that rather than making vulnerable homeless people live in the homelessness system, sleeping in hostels, the streets and B&Bs, we offer them a proper place to call home, and provide a wrap-around and well-resourced support package for them to make sure they sustain that tenancy.
“I would like to thank the range of the organisations involved in EdIndex and Wheatley Group for their bold leadership in tackling this issue. I would also like to thank Edinburgh Council leadership Adam McVey and Cammy Day for having such a strong vision for Edinburgh's most vulnerable people.
“I would also like to thank our amazing participants of Sleep in the Park for raising so much money. A significant proportion of the money they have raised will be invested to make sure that this commitment to housing is paired with fantastic support.
“We’ll work with a range of Scottish charities and leading minds in housing and homelessness to help map out the support people will require to get back on their feet. We will also work hand in hand with the Scottish Government action group to make sure our approach is joined up with the ongoing work to tackle homelessness.”
Communities Secretary, Angela Constance, said: “Along with ministerial colleagues I am delighted to be able to take part and support Social Bite’s Sleep Out. With over 8,000 people taking part, it shows we all want to see an end to rough sleeping and homelessness and I commend everyone for their fantastic fundraising.
“The Scottish Government is committed to eradicating rough sleeping which is why we established our Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Action Group, which Social Bite takes part in. We are already implementing their first recommendations to tackle rough sleeping this winter and that work now continues as we strive to end rough sleeping for good.
“The development of the Housing First model is already being delivered in areas of Scotland and has shown great results so far. It is a good example of an innovative scheme to support people who have experienced homelessness, particularly amongst those with more complex needs, and support them into settled accommodation. The Action Group will consider the Housing First approach as part of its commitment to tackling rough sleeping and transforming temporary accommodation.
“I look forward to their final report and we will continue to take action to end homelessness backed by our £50 million ending homelessness fund.”
Martin Armstrong, Wheatley Group chief executive, said: “At Wheatley we are very committed to supporting people who find themselves homeless. We understand how complex an issue rough sleeping can be. We want to play our part in helping tackle that issue, not just through the provision of homes but also by helping provide targeted, personalised support to help individuals rebuild their lives.”
Over 8,000 thousand people have signed up to take part in Sleep in the Park and more than £2.8m has been raised so far.
