Fears homeless scheme may impact neighbours
Councillors say some clients need‘intense support’
Fears have been voiced that residents with chaotic lifestyles, housed under a new Government scheme for homelessness, could impact their neighbours.
Rapid Rehousing has been developed by the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Group (HARSAG) set up by the Scottish Government in October 2017 to produce short and long term solutions to end homelessness and rough sleeping.
Stirling Council has one of the lowest turnovers of housing stock in Scotland, causing a backlog in temporary accommodation and resulting in the use of bed and breakfast accommodation in some instances. Tighter restrictions and timescales for the use of B&B accommodation are being introduced.
The authority, however, is one of five involved in a pilot scheme for Housing First, which focuses on those with complex needs who have been in and out of the homeless system on numerous occasions. Under the scheme they are prioritised for settled housing and provided with wraparound support to help them sustain their tenancy.
Currently 10 households have been accommodated through the scheme, with a target of 20 by March 2021. The council has received a total of £211,000 for two years of the project so far from the Scottish Government, some of which has paid for three additional housing support officers, and officers expected the total to reach around £600,000 over a five year period, with additional streams of funding to support new housing and other measures.
At a full virtual meeting of Stirling Council recently, councillors unimously agreed to send an update of the Rapid Rehousing Transition Plan to the
Scottish Government.
However, some councillors also stressed the importance of supporting not just those the scheme was directed at, but also their neighbours.
SNP councillor Alasdair Macpherson said he supported the Rapid Rehousing project, particularly given it included support for people who possibly have “chaotic lifestyles”, but asked what support neighbours would be given.
He added: “Obviously there have been flaws already in the pilot. Some of the clients do need intense support so I’m not sure three support officers is enough. We are aware who these people are but they can create havoc in communities so it’s really important we can keep on top of this.”
Chief housing officer Stephen Clark said: “The additional housing support officers will work with the tenants to ensure they are good tenants and neighours. Some people have very chaotic backgrounds and we recognise it can have a significant impact on communities, so it is important we do our best to provide support.”
Fellow SNP councillor Maureen Bennison said she welcomed the Rapid Rehousing policy as she believed “a roof over your head is a basic human right”.
However, she added: “I would agree there can be unintended consequences and this policy appears to have very little regard for neighbours and communities who live next door to people with chaotic or criminal lifestyles.”
Councillor Bennison asked what safeguards were in place for women and children from convicted sex offenders, however officials said such offenders were rehoused under a different system and dealt with separately.
Mr Clark said: “There is currently no intention to provide Housing First accomodation to MAPPA (Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements). That’s the same across Scotland.”
Tory councillor Martin Earl said one of the biggest public concerns of the policy was the need for a “wraparound” support network for people living around the tenants and asked if the local tenants’ Housing Advisory Group had expressed any concerns.
Mr Clark replied: “As far as I can recall tenants were broadly supportive.”
Figures published last year showed that over the last five years the number of people presenting as homeless in Stirling area has risen by 75 per cent, from 339 in 2013-14 to 595 in 2017-18, with those in Stirling typically spending 35 weeks in temporary accommodation against a figure for Scotland of 14 weeks.
As of May 18 this year there were 49 households in bed and breakfast accommodation - up from 20 in January. Officials said the Covid-19 pandemic had resulted in even greater restriction on the turnover of accommodation.
Some people have very chaotic backgrounds and we recognise it can have a significant impact