Research commissioned by Social Bite and conducted by Heriot-Watt University's Institute for Social Policy, Housing, Equalities Research (I-SPHERE) has been published. The report informs the charity's plans for how money raised by the world's biggest sleepout this December will be invested and provides a clear roadmap for how homelessness in Scotland could be tackled. The report also highlights the key decisions that need to be taken by government and local authorities for Scotland to end homelessness.

CYBG plc, whose employees are aiming to raise £500,000 in the coming weeks, has also been announced as Sleep in the Park's main strategic fundraisers.

The Heriot-Watt report entitled Eradicating 'Core Homelessness' in Scotland's Four Largest Cities: Providing an Evidence Base and Guiding a Funding Framework delivers the most recent analysis of homelessness in Scotland's largest cities. It shows that a collaborative effort can make a significant impact on reducing the number of people without a home.

Professor Suzanne Fitzpatrick, Director of I-SPHERE and specialist in research on homelessness and housing exclusion, commented: 'The team was delighted to have the opportunity to partner with Social Bite in producing this up-to-date picture of 'core homelessness' in Scotland's four major cities.

'The study demonstrates that these more extreme forms of homelessness are still a substantial problem in our main urban centres, but also that it is possible for collaborative efforts to seriously drive down this persistent and distressing social problem.

'It is hoped that the evidence provided in the report, together with the profile and fundraising activities of Social Bite, can help to shape public debate in a progressive direction that makes positive policy responses more likely.'

The specific problems of rough sleeping and temporary accommodation differed across Scotland, showing the need to develop policies tailored to local contexts. The report showed strong support for the 'Housing First' model of rehousing people with more complex needs into mainstream tenancies with wrap-around support.

Josh Littlejohn MBE, co-founder of Social Bite, said: 'We are thrilled to publish this Heriot-Watt report today. We are so grateful for the contribution of 46 charities and organisations involved with homelessness throughout Scotland who took part in a series of focus groups, which makes it one of the most collaborative research projects ever conducted on homelessness in Scotland.

'The findings give us very clear statistics of homelessness throughout Scotland's four largest cities and highlight clear differences in cause and solution in each area. The study gives us a very clear roadmap of how homelessness could be brought right down and the issue could be solved. The statistics are certainly not so big that it is beyond our combined wit as a nation to end homelessness in Scotland.

'One of the most important areas this report tells us really needs our collective focus is on a significant 'Housing First' solution to homelessness. Housing First basically means rather than making homeless people live through years of expensive temporary accommodations and rough sleeping, we provide access to a mainstream tenancy straight away and invest in a well-resourced support structure to support them in that tenancy.

'Prior to our Sleep in the Park event we will be working with the Local Authorities in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Dundee as well as leading Housing Associations to establish meaningful commitments and identify various houses that can be made available to homeless people. Through the money our amazing participants raise at Sleep in the Park, alongside other funders, we will seek to help other charities to provide a wrap-around support structure for these vulnerable people in their new tenancies. This gives us the opportunity to make a significant impact on homelessness throughout Scotland, in as quick a timeframe as possible.

'I would like to particularly thank Clydesdale Bank for an incredible commitment of pledging £500K for the cause. This is the sort of bold move and collaborative effort required from all sectors if we are to end homelessness in Scotland.'

David Duffy, Chief Executive of CYBG plc, owners of Clydesdale Bank, said: 'I had my eyes opened to the real tragedy of homelessness when I took part in Social Bite's CEO Sleepout initiative last year and it was a humbling experience. It's an event I have spoken to colleagues about throughout the year and when Josh explained his plans for this year's Sleep in the Park I knew we needed to get colleagues involved and do something extra special to really try and make a difference.

'Our determination to support Sleep in the Park is strengthened by the stark findings in Heriot-Watt's research. Today's report shows the scale of homelessness in Scotland, but the money raised from Sleep in the Park will be vital in putting in place the robust, well-thought-out plan to address this issue.'

Commenting on the Heriot-Watt report, Margaret-Ann Brunjes, Director of Glasgow Homelessness Network and leading voice in 'Housing First in Scotland' said: 'One of the most exciting features of this report is that it blends the can-do of social entrepreneurialism with academic rigour and reason. Well done to Josh and the team at Social Bite for this foresight - and to Professor Fitzpatrick and the team at Heriot-Watt University for outlining a clearer path for all of us trying to eradicate homelessness in Scotland.

'Housing First is the single most important change of direction we can take. It understands that home is the best base for most people to build and live their lives - which means less 'homeless' accommodation, less revolving in and out of a homeless system and ultimately, less people sleeping rough. International evidence already backs that up.'

Sleep in the Park will take place on 9 December in West Princes Street Gardens and will feature exclusive 'busking' sets from Liam Gallagher, Deacon Blue, Amy Macdonald and Frightened Rabbit.

Members of the public can join Sleep in the Park by committing to fundraising at least £100. Businesses can sponsor the event by signing up a team of five with a minimum fundraising pledge of £3,000.

To find out more and to sign up visit www.sleepinthepark.co.uk

CYBG plc published this content on 14 November 2017 and is solely responsible for the information contained herein.
Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 14 November 2017 11:34:05 UTC.

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