Homeless plan likely ‘doomed’
Dear Editor The article on Rapid Rehousing Transition Plans (Stirling Observer, July 15) is inaccurate in many issues.
Stephen Clark, the current Chief Housing Officer, was not involved in the original consultations with tenants on this issue. Indeed his predecessor Lorna Cameron was the then CHO who submitted the plans to the Scottish Government prior to any consultation with tenants or the Housing Advisory Group.
Tenants were NOT satisfied with the proposals which were challenged in May 2019, as they believed there were shortcomings in the scheme. An example of this was over the five-year projection of the scheme which was to cost £2.6m, but only received £101k for the first two years.
Certainly savings were identified in those two years but these would be swallowed up by training costs for two members of staff (salaries circa £28k per annum and taken from existing personnel) and not taking account of any support measures required including that of the points raised by Councillors
Macpherson and Bennison in the July 15 article.
It is believed that the remainder of the shortfall will be met by existing savings including lessening the usage of temporary and bed and breakfast accommodation. Yet, we have already seen homelessness rise and the use of more B&BS alongside major community problems brought to the fore by Covid-19. Must we see a repeat of the deaths of homeless people such as the young Polish man released from hospital with no support and who died in a Stirling shop doorway.
The current strategy is a short-term fix to a long term problem. We need to realise that we do not have enough housing to cope with demand. We require to have a prevention strategy that protects our vulnerable citizens, including our young folk, and helps them stay at home - a sustainable housing strategy that detracts away from shortterm tenancies including education on how to run a home and with support measures for those with alcohol, drugs and mental health issues.
Marion Gibbs, a member of the Scottish Government
Homelessness panel, stated in 2018 that all local authorities had now submitted their plans for RRTP at a cost of £218m for all of Scotland. Yet the Scottish Government budget for Scotland was £94m.
Housing First and RRTP is maybe a good plan for those who initiated the idea. Unless it is backed up by finance and proper planning then it’s doomed before it starts properly to deal with the homeless issue.
The councillors are right, but, not only that, we have seen a rise in those declaring themselves as homeless in order to get priority against those the scheme is meant to assist.
This was always a shortsighted view from people with good intentions but no distinct realisation of what the realities are on the ground.
In all my years of being involved in housing, both inside and out, there has never been a solid policy in dealing with homelessness. I don’t have all the answers and I know we need to deal with the issue, but this unrealistic policy is not the right way.
Hugh Mcclung MBE Tenant