Nicola Sturgeon announces £328,000 of funding to tackle rough sleeping this winter

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Nicola Sturgeon has unveiled £328,000 of funding to help tackle rough sleeping this winter.

The funding will be used to increase emergency accommodation in areas with the greatest numbers of rough sleepers, create personal budgets for front line workers to spend on immediate housing needs, and support the emergency Nightstop service.

The Scottish Government’s Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Action Group held its first meeting in October, recommending that government and member groups work to increase capacity in temporary and emergency accommodation in Edinburgh by expanding the winter shelter capacity from 60 to 75 and delivering an additional 12 rapid-access beds.

It also suggested increasing outreach capacity in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen and further exploring any need for additional capacity in Dundee.

It recommended maximising use of the Nightstop – which provides young people with emergency accommodation for up to 2 weeks in the homes of approved volunteers – in Edinburgh and supporting its implementation in Glasgow by January 2018.

Sturgeon said: “I want to thank the action group for the serious and urgent work they have done. These actions, which the government accepts in full and will roll out immediately, will provide more support for those who find themselves homeless and more safe and warm places to stay this winter.

“We have a shared commitment to eradicate rough sleeping and end homelessness which is why we established the action group, backed by £50 million to drive change.

“While we take these immediate steps to help those who find themselves at risk of rough sleeping this winter, the Group’s work now continues as we strive to end rough sleeping for good.”