Project helping homeless get online forced to scale back services after government cuts funding

An initiative which helps boost digital skills amongst people experiencing homelessness has been forced to cut back its operations after failing to secure funding in the Scottish budget.

Since 2017, Get Connected – an initiative delivered by charity Simon Community Scotland (SCS) - has been providing digital support to hundreds of homeless people in a bid to improve their quality of life.

It has also been providing devices to the homeless since the Covid pandemic in 2020.

Delivered as part of the charity’s Get Digital initiative, the project has had to significantly scale down its support after failing to secure new funding in the budget.

The news comes months after Jamie Trout, head of digital at SCS, told Holyrood the project was at risk of going under unless funding was renewed in the budget.

Following the closure, Trout told Holyrood that ending the programme will have “significant” and “far-reaching” consequences on individuals and public services.

The project has had to scale down its support from a national to a local level. It has been forced to look for “alternative way to help people”, Trout continued, as the end to the funding meant the project “doesn’t have the capacity to operate at the same level.”

During the past two years, the initiative has provided smartphones or laptops, connectivity, and support from trained frontline workers specialising in digital inclusion, to more than 1,600 individuals. It has also supplied more than 1,500 SIM cards to help get those in need online and trained more than 500 frontline staff in digital inclusion.

But since the funding cut it has only been able to deliver around 30 devices, Trout said.

 “Ending this vital national programme will have significant consequences for the most vulnerable members of our society. It will create greater challenges in accessing health and public services, lead to increased isolation, and contribute to a rise in depression and loneliness. Moreover, it could result in the loss of benefits, heightened poverty, unemployment, and, ultimately, homelessness—all of which are deeply connected to digital access.”

The news also comes after a report by Audit Scotland warned that lacking basic digital skills could impact an individual’s human rights. 

Trout added: “The impact on individuals and services will be far-reaching, extending well beyond what might be immediately visible. For just £100, we can provide someone with access to the digital world for 12 months — an investment that is not only life-changing but also offers exceptional value for money."

Holyrood understands one person has been made redundant and another has been moved from a full-time to a part-time job, following the closure.

The news comes amid a homelessness crisis north of the border, with the number of those affected reaching a 10-year record high last year.

Figures revealed by the Scottish Government showed there were 40,685 homelessness applications during 2023-24, a four per cent increase from the year before and the highest since 2011-12.

A Scottish Government spokesperson told Holyrood: “The Scottish Government contributed time-limited grant funding to the Simon Community Scotland’s Get Digital Project from 2021/22 to the end of March 2024 and remains committed to supporting digital inclusion.  

“We continue to roll out the £2m Digital Inclusion Programme, which has a focus on mental health and housing to support people in getting access to digital services. To date the programme has supported over 1,800 people through 20 projects across Scotland. 

“The £3.2m Digital Lifelines Programme supports people in getting access to digital devices, skills and affordable connectivity. It has helped over 3,000 people through 35 grant funded organisations including people at risk of harm through drug use, people experiencing homelessness, people being released from custody, and those being discharged from hospital or residential services.”