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Church of Scotland call for new strategy on homelessness Number of homeless 'unchanged for 20 years'
(about 5 hours later)
A new strategy is needed to tackle homelessness in Scotland, according to a senior figure from the Church of Scotland.A new strategy is needed to tackle homelessness in Scotland, according to a senior figure from the Church of Scotland.
The Right Rev Dr Russell Barr will tell a conference in Edinburgh that the number of homeless people has remained largely unchanged for 20 years.The Right Rev Dr Russell Barr will tell a conference in Edinburgh that the number of homeless people has remained largely unchanged for 20 years.
Scottish government figures show almost 35,000 people made homeless applications last year.Scottish government figures show almost 35,000 people made homeless applications last year.
Ministers said in June they were working to reduce homelessness.Ministers said in June they were working to reduce homelessness.
The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland said homelessness was "demoralising, degrading and dehumanising".The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland said homelessness was "demoralising, degrading and dehumanising".
He called on local authorities, political parties, housing associations and charities to launch a "collective endeavour" to tackle the issue.He called on local authorities, political parties, housing associations and charities to launch a "collective endeavour" to tackle the issue.
Dr Barr said the co-operation model had been successfully developed in Finland - the only western European country to significantly reduce the number of homeless people in recent years.Dr Barr said the co-operation model had been successfully developed in Finland - the only western European country to significantly reduce the number of homeless people in recent years.
'Housing first' 'Well researched'
Scottish government figures from 2015-16 show that 17,822 children and young people belonged to households applying to be registered as homeless, from a total number of 34,662 applications.Scottish government figures from 2015-16 show that 17,822 children and young people belonged to households applying to be registered as homeless, from a total number of 34,662 applications.
In 1996, there were 40,989 applications, according to the housing charity Shelter.In 1996, there were 40,989 applications, according to the housing charity Shelter.
The Moderator is addressing the Scottish Churches Housing Action event, at which he will warn there is "little hope" of resolving homelessness unless Scotland begins to emulate Finland's approach to the problem. The Moderator is addressing the Scottish Churches Housing Action event, at which he will warn there is "little hope" of resolving homelessness unless Scotland begins to emulate Finland's approach to the issue.
Dr Barr is expected to say: "Based on Maslow's hierarchy of needs, the Finnish distinctive 'housing first' model has demonstrated it is always more cost-effective to end homelessness rather than manage it. Dr Barr told BBC Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme that issues like low wages and zero-hours contracts contributed to homelessness.
"This nationally agreed policy made it possible to establish a wide partnership of state authorities, local communities and non-governmental organisations. He said: "Despite the fact there's been a lot of good effort by national government, by local authorities and by third-sector charities, it's stayed the same for a number of reasons.
"And because there were co-ordinated and targeted measures in the implementation of the policy, it is working. "Firstly, because there's not been enough houses or social housing built over the last 20 years and secondly, because there's not been as joined-up and as integrated an approach to resolving it among all the different parties as there needs to be."
"Collective endeavour - as expressed in a nationally agreed strategy appropriate for the Scottish context - could not be more urgent." Dr Barr said there was "no difficulty" in understanding the contributory factors that lead to someone becoming homeless.
He said: "It's been very well researched. There's no difficulty in understanding. The challenge is to move from simply managing it, which is what we're doing at the moment, to aspiring to resolve it."
He added: "Issues around low wages, issues around zero-hours contracts, these are all part of the mix that lead to people getting into difficulties with paying rent, with paying mortgages and end up to folk becoming homeless."