Half of Scotland’s local authorities are covered.
A series of pilot projects aimed at finding new ways of preventing people from becoming homeless in Scotland have been given the green light.
The initiative will channel vital support to people at risk, offering earlier interventions and practical help, with the aim of helping them remain in their homes.
A total of 15 projects across Scotland are sharing £4 million of Scottish Government funding, covering major cities, small towns, rural areas and islands.
The fund is being administered by the charity Advice Direct Scotland, with organisations across the country testing new ‘ask and act’ measures.
Under the Housing (Scotland) Act, which became law earlier this month, new duties will be placed on bodies such as NHS health boards, local authorities, Police Scotland and the Scottish Prison Service to take reasonable steps to prevent homelessness.
The pilots cover 16 of Scotland’s 32 local authority areas, including Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Fife, and Argyll and Bute, with the potential to spread wider.
More than 70 organisations are involved in the 15 pilots, which begin today [MON] and will be led by a combination of NHS health boards, local authorities, and charities.
The fund will support the projects to trial the new duties in real-world settings, so homelessness prevention can be embedded into everyday practice.
They will explore how services can work together to identify people at risk earlier, such as those facing a relationship breakdown, leaving hospital, exiting prison, or struggling with debt.
The pilots are due to run until the end of 2026, with the findings expected to shape future regulations and guidance that can be rolled out nationally.
Andrew Bartlett, chief executive of Advice Direct Scotland, said: “From our big cities to rural communities and the islands, these initiatives reflect the breadth of expertise and commitment needed to prevent homelessness.
“Some pilots are focused on specific places, while others cover services or entire council areas, and at least six are aiming for national impact.
“It’s been hugely rewarding for us to support this investment, and we look forward to hearing about the results of the pilot initiatives.
“What’s particularly encouraging is the level of leadership and commitment from both national bodies and grassroots organisations.
“This is about a shared mission across the country to reshape the way services tackle homelessness.
“It’s great to see Scotland’s biggest national organisations, especially those in health and social care, playing a strong role.
“With more than 70 organisations taking part, these pilots are the first step towards what we hope will be a transformational change on preventing homelessness.”
Housing Secretary Màiri McAllan said: “I welcome the start of these homelessness prevention pilots across the country.
“Everyone should be able to live in a safe, warm home and the best way to end homelessness is to prevent it happening in the first place.
“That is why we included an additional £4 million in this year’s homelessness budget for these pilot projects.
“Preventing homelessness is at the heart of our recently passed Housing (Scotland) Act. These pilots will help test out the new ‘ask and act’ duties for certain public bodies before they come into force.”
