Fife Council first to back charity’s homelessness campaign

Fife Council has become the first authority in Scotland to sign up to a national campaign aimed at tackling homelessness.

Shelter Scotland’s Homelessness: Far From Fixed campaign calls for significant changes to end homelessness by ensuring public bodies are working together to tackle the causes and consequences of people losing their homes.

Fife Council has backed the initiative and is working closely with the charity as part of the national Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Action Group to end homelessness.

Judy Hamilton, Fife Council’s convener of community and housing services committee, said: “Everyone deserves a warm and safe place to call home and it’s vital that we continue to push forward in our bid to eliminate homelessness.

“Here in Fife we are committed to providing affordable housing with 2,700 homes already completed and a commitment to a further 3,500 to be built over the next five years.

“While this will make a big difference, we know it will not solve the problem of homelessness in our communities.”

In 2016-17, Fife alone saw 1,942 households assessed as homeless and 515 in temporary accommodation – including 353 children.

Graeme Brown, director of Shelter Scotland, said: “This move by Fife Council to become the first local authority in Scotland to sign our campaign is welcomed and demonstrates its commitment to tackling this national problem.

“There is still a long way to go, but with the backing of the public, politicians, organisations and now councils we can really tackle both the causes and consequences of homelessness.”