Màiri McAllan and Maree Todd applaud homelessness charity’s supported accommodation as an exemplary alternative to temporary accommodation
Cabinet Secretary for Housing, Màiri McAllan, and Minister of Drugs and Alcohol Policy, Maree Todd, visited leading homelessness charity, Social Bite’s pioneering supported accommodation village in Edinburgh yesterday to explore the model and discuss its success in breaking the cycle of homelessness, addressing addiction issues and reducing social isolation.
Accompanied by Social Bite founder Josh Littlejohn MBE and Cyrenians CEO Ewan Aitken, the ministers were given a tour of the village including a look inside one of the innovative nest houses which, since launching in 2018, have helped break the cycle of homelessness for almost 100 people.
One of three Social Bite Villages currently in progress in Scotland, discussions centered around the models as an excellent alternative to temporary accommodation, their track record in helping people leave homelessness behind for good, and their impact in addressing addiction issues.
The Ministers applauded the charity’s innovative approach and its ambition to scale the projects country-wide to help as many people as possible out of homelessness and addiction, build independence and gain safe and secure housing and employment.
The charity called upon the ministers to look at the current welfare and temporary accommodation systems in the UK and to work together with them to back the bespoke village model as a viable and effective way of meeting the needs of people across Scotland. There were also discussions around how more cross-portfolio working between housing, homelessness, health and addictions policy-makers, could truly make the difference for people with addictions in Scotland.
Josh Littlejohn said: “I’m grateful to Màiri McAllan and Maree Todd for taking time to visit the Edinburgh Social Bite Village. It was brilliant to discuss the ways we can better support people who are facing homelessness and to have the opportunity to explore the challenges around access to recovery facilities, as we gear up to submit our planning application for a village in Dundee.
“We have called for backing from both ministers to help us scale our tried and tested Village model across the country, and hope they will be able to show continued support as we work with our partners to find appropriate solutions to preventing homelessness and addiction.”
Danielle, who lived in the Edinburgh Village in 2022, shared some of her experience: “The Village gave me stability, it has a calming atmosphere – it was the first place I could call home since childhood.
“I owe so much to Social Bite, to the Village, and everyone who helped me along the way while living there and beyond.”
Ewan Aitken, Chief Executive of Cyrenians, said: “The Social Bite village is the epitome of a public health approach to homelessness, relying on partnership between two charities, and the experience of those with lived experience, to provide a service which is truly tailored to the needs of the people who use it.
“I was delighted to be able to meet both the Minister for Drugs and Alcohol and the Cabinet Secretary for Housing, using the village as an example of the kind of collaborative approach that we need to across the public, private and third sector.
“Because if we are to truly tackle homelessness and drugs and alcohol harm, we need to understand how those two problems intersect and how we can all work together to combat them.”
The Village will soon undergo a move from its current site to a new site in Granton, where it will continue to house up to 16 people who have experienced homelessness. The new location will bring with it a refresh of the Hub, the communal area for villagers to cook, gather and relax, and the introduction of seven new one-bedroom ‘Nest Houses’ which have been re-designed and improved, following resident feedback.
Charity partner and fellow homelessness prevention organisation, Cyrenians, will continue to deliver round-the-clock support.
Cyrenians has been a key part of Social Bite’s work in supporting the reintegration of people into the community by helping residents to develop skills and confidence.
For more information on the Edinburgh Village, visit: https://www.social-bite.co.uk/what-we-do/the-edinburgh-social-bite-village/
