The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Ambitious plans to wipe out homelessness in city
Council poised to unveil new strategy with a five-year target
Aberdeen councillors will next week outline their plan for eradicating homelessness in the city within five years.
The ambitious effort will see it follow in the footsteps of the likes of East Renfrewshire and Midlothian councils who have pioneered what is now the national strategy.
The Rapid Rehousing Transition Plan (RRTP) aims to fulfil the Scottish Government’s aspiration of making sure all people have homes by 2024.
Under the plan, anyone who is identified as homeless would be moved more swiftly into permanent accommodation.
The council also hopes to save money in the long term by keeping people out of expensive temporary accommodation like bed and breakfasts.
Last May, The Press and Journal revealed Aberdeen City Council was paying out more than £23,000 a day to put residents up in temporary accommodation.
The figures showed that over the previous three years, the authority had spent almost £26 million placing homeless people, or those at risk of homelessness, in accommodation including hostels, B&Bs and hotels.
In 2017-18, a total of 1,541 people required re-homing, The sight of people begging on Aberdeen’s streets is depressingly commonplace.
Opinions have long been split on the issue – with some raising concerns that not all beggars are legitimately homeless.
In 2013, a controversial bylaw was approved by the including 38 who were evacuated from a block of flats following a boiler fire.
That marked an increase of 20% on the 1,266 relocated by the council in 2015-16.
City council housing spokeswoman Sandra Macdonald said the rollout of Universal Credit had added to the problems caused by the oil and gas downturn.
She said: “The plan is certainly ambitious but it’s important to say that this is just one strand. There will be many, including building a lot more affordable housing.
“Everyone should be able to have a decent place to stay at night.”
Scottish Government housing minister Kevin Stewart said: “Through the homelessness and rough sleeping action group, we have asked local authorities and their partners to transition to a rapid rehousing approach, which will see those experiencing homelessness placed in long-term and settled accommodation quickly.
“Everyone needs a safe, warm place to call home and it is our priority to get a person into settled accommodation first, so they can then access support from the security of their own home.
“I look forward to continuing to work with local authorities, including in Aberdeen, to end homelessness once and for all.”