DEAD ADDICT QUIT REHAB OVER HOME FEARS
CALL FOR EMERGENCY HOUSING FUND Benefit issue means many trying to quit drugs face stark choice
A YOUNG drug addict died of a drug overdose just three days after quitting a rehab course because he faced losing his home.
The tragic death has exposed a loophole in Scotland’s efforts to tackling the rising tide of drug deaths and led campaign group Shelter Scotland to demand action from the Scottish Government to protect others.
The man, whose family has asked him not to be named, was being threatened with homelessness while fighting addiction in rehab but quit the programme early to keep his flat.
Three days later, he was dead from an overdose.
Within a few days, while his family was still dealing with raw grief, the housing association that had threatened to make him homeless was trying to hurry them to clear the flat as it wanted the keys back.
Shelter Scotland says scores of people battling addiction are being forced to make a similar, virtually impossible choice between going into potentially life-saving residential rehab facilities or keeping their homes.
It says many rehabilitation facilities are not funded directly by the Scottish Government or local authorities.
This means those moving into rehab have to claim housing benefit to cover the cost but most are already receiving it to pay for their council or housing association accommodation. The stark choice proved fatal for the young man, who left rehab desperate to keep his home.
The Scottish Government has laid the blame at Westminster’s door, stating that housing benefit is a fully reserved power.
But there is unease even among SNP politicians and some Third Sector bodies that rely on central funding. They point out the Scottish Government has the power to fund vital rehab from other sources.
The Record has been campaigning for action since Scotland recorded 1264 deaths due to drug misuse in 2019 – a record number for the sixth year.
Shelter Scotland has written to the Scottish Government to demand action. Director Alison
Watson said: “We are asking for an emergency fund to be set up immediately to ensure that people can enter these rehabs and not have to lose their home.
“We would look to the Scottish Government to review how these services are funded and ensure, in the long-term, provision is made for those who require this life-saving support.”
A Scottish Government spokesman said: “As housing benefit is entirely reserved to the UK Government, this is an issue we will bring to its attention.
“We are absolutely clear that people should not be asked to choose between accessing residential rehabilitation facilities and keeping their home, which is why most councils have arrangements in place to ensure this does not happen.” Alasdair MacPherson, deputy chair of Stirling Council’s housing committee and an SNP councillor, said a nondiscretionary fund was needed and the Scottish Government had the power to establish it.
He said: “Payment for rent and rehab should kick in automatically when required, so that vulnerable people don’t have to choose between rehab that could save their lives and homelessness.
“In the case of the young man who died, a discretionary payment could have been applied but it was refused.
“It’s too important to leave matters of life and death in the hands of individuals not trained to make those decisions.”
THE Duchess of Sussex wants to see evidence of bullying claims against her as she fights back against what she says is a “smear campaign” by Buckingham Palace.
Royal staff have decided a third party should take charge of a probe into claims that, while working as a royal, Meghan bullied two aides so badly they quit.
As the Palace brings in external investigators to examine the allegations, Meghan, 39, and Harry, 36, reportedly want to see documents, emails or text messages about the case.
Initially, the Palace had said the probe would be carried out in-house but fears that the outcome would not be seen as impartial forced courtiers into a rethink.
The complaint against Meghan was first made in October 2018, by Jason
Knauf, then the Sussexes’ communications secretary, who wrote in an email to a courtier: “I am very concerned that the Duchess was able to bully two PAs out of the household in the past year.”
He said Meghan had undermined the confidence of a third aide and described her behaviour as “totally unacceptable”.
Meghan denies the allegation and sources say she has “written to request the evidence”. The Queen passed the request to Prince Charles, whose aides are now searching files.
It has also emerged that Harry and his brother Prince William have “been in contact” for the first time since last week’s interview with Oprah Winfrey. In it, the Sussexes made allegations of racism in the Royal Family and of being cut off financially. Meghan told how she had suicidal thoughts while pregnant with son Archie, now one.
Supporters of Prince Charles accused Harry of hypocrisy, challenging his claim that his father had “cut him off ” financially.
They said Charles was “deeply hurt” by Harry’s remarks in the interview but had since resolved to “mend the broken relationship” with his son.
It is understood the Prince of Wales, 72, plans to contact Harry.
“His mood is that of a father, not that of a statesman,” one friend was reported as saying.
“You are looking at a father who is deeply hurt by where he finds his relationship with his son. He also realises that nothing good will come of prolonging the fight.
“Charles has a real desire to get back to the close relationship that he enjoyed with Harry for the longest time.”
ITV has been forced to edit part of the Oprah interview after it was revealed headlines supposedly showing British press coverage of the couple as racist were manipulated by production staff.
Speculation also mounted yesterday that Meghan is considering launching a political career and is networking among senior US Democrats, intending to build a campaign and fundraising teams.
Sources said she ultimately might want to run for the White House.
Charles has a real desire to get back to the close relationship they had FRIEND OF PRINCE OF WALES ON HARRY RIFT
JOHN Swinney has denied that sending secondary pupils back to school today is a smokescreen for SNP embarrassment over the Salmond Inquiry.
Teachers’ union the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) claimed the Government wanted a “good news” story to distract from Nicola Sturgeon’s troubles.
The EIS said the decision to send Primary 4-7 kids back full-time and secondary pupils part-time was not made with young people’s interests in mind.
Andrea Bradley, EIS assistant secretary, said teachers had been “caught by surprise” by the First Minister’s March 2 announcement on the eve of her giving eight hours of evidence to the inquiry.
She said: “The decision seemed to be a political one rather than one that was based on sound educational principle.
“Certainly it wasn’t one that has taken account of the very real circumstances in which teachers are working – under quite significant stress and pressure over the last six months.”
Primaries one to three returned fulltime on February 22, along with older pupils in S4 to S6, who had to complete work for qualifications.
Secondary pupils’ return had not been expected until after the Easter holidays.
Bradley said: “The Government has been keen to get all young people back to school – there has been strong lobbying for that from some quarters.
She added: “We have to have cognisance of the context in which the decision was announced. It took place before the parliamentary evidence session. Our sense was the Government was looking for a good news story that week.”
Education Secretary Swinney insisted the Scottish Government’s concern was for children’s “wellbeing”.
He said: “All the mitigations have got to be in place to keep everybody safe, whether they are members of staff or pupils.
“We were concerned about wellbeing of S1-3 pupils, who might feel excluded from the return to school if we didn’t give them some opportunity for face-toface learning before the Easter holidays.
“That was the one and only motivation that the Government had.”
Meanwhile, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar is to demand personal tutoring for all Scottish pupils to help them recover from the school shutdown.
In his first major speech as leader today, Sarwar will outline a “summer comeback” programme with resources for youth, arts and outdoors organisations, and free access to sport, transport, outdoor activities and culture.
He wants a guarantee of a free place at college to resit national qualifications if needed and support for teaching staff, including enhanced digital training.