Homelessness prevention a priority for Scottish Election

As the final set of annual homelessness statistics for Scotland before next May’s Scottish Parliament election were published, The Salvation Army went on TV and radio urging all political parties north of the border to make preventing and ending homelessness a key part of their manifestos and campaigns.

Our own data shows the prevalence of mental health issues in people experiencing homelessness demonstrating the importance of the right kind of support. Analysis (1) of people receiving help from The Salvation Army Homelessness Service in Scotland found:

• Half of all those who are homeless and receiving support from The Salvation Army are struggling with mental health issues.
• More than 30% were not registered with a GP when they arrived
• 27% of people reported sleeping rough at least one night before taking up a residential placement and frequently for many more nights prior to that.

The Salvation Army is one of the largest providers of homelessness services in the UK and around 7000 people annually are helped or accommodated in Scotland from Glasgow to the Highlands.

Helen Murdoch, Assistant Territorial Director Strategic Operations & Development (Scotland), appeared on BBC Good Morning Scotland and STV Scotland Tonight, saying:

“Scotland will never beat homelessness unless we are able to tackle the reasons people become homeless in the first place. Underlying issues such as poverty, trauma, abuse, addiction and mental health issues all increase the risk. That is why we are calling on all political parties at Holyrood to make homelessness prevention and wrap around support a priority going into next year’s election.

“We know from our own data for last year that poor mental health is a factor for at least half of the people we support. Our Breaking the Cycle report identifies that in Scotland we have seen an 87% rise in the number of homeless households with both mental health and substance use support needs over the past 10 years(3). The Scottish Government, councils, health providers and charities working together, with proper funding, can prevent homelessness before it starts and save lives this winter.”

James currently lives in temporary accommodation in Edinburgh and began working for The Salvation Army this year after previously being a resident in its homeless accommodation. James said:

“I’m actively trying to get a permanent home after bouts of homelessness throughout my life. An integrated approach is needed and a whole load of support measures put in place to help people tackle trauma, criminal justice issues, addiction and mental health challenges like anxiety. All this ought to be addressed together, with the person at the centre. When you’re homeless you don’t have security and it’s hard to project into the future when you’re cold, lonely, hungry and tired – who wouldn’t be anxious, no one wants to live like that.”

The Salvation Army offers both residential accommodation in our Lifehouses along with Outreach, which is where a person receives dedicated support to live independently and rebuild their life after homelessness. The type of assistance can include help finding a permanent tenancy, handling financial matters, employment advice and addiction support."

Helen Murdoch added:

“In what might be an indication of the housing emergency declared by the Scottish Government and a lack of affordable ‘move on’ accommodation, there was a sharp increase last year in how long people remained in our residential accommodation from 297 days to 338 days. We all know what needs to be done. The next parliament must prioritise addiction support in the evenings and at weekends; improved mental health services in communities; plus increase the availability of affordable homes to give vulnerable people stability, accessible local healthcare and – above all – hope for the future.”

For help or assistance visit https://www.salvationarmy.org.uk/map-page and enter a postcode or address to find The Salvation Army nearby. People who are concerned about becoming homeless or who are homeless should contact the local authority responsible for their area, council maps are available on the Scottish Government website https://www.gov.scot/publications/local-authority-maps-of-scotland/.