Grants totaling £1.6 million is to fund innovative services aimed at tackling homelessness and improving housing, particularly for the most vulnerable. Seventeen projects successfully applied for the Housing Voluntary Grant Scheme (HVGS) 2018/19, which supports third sector organisations to deliver housing related projects and services.
The latest round of funding will fund projects which include support for people at risk of homelessness, enabling independent living for older people, disabled people and veterans, and providing support and advice services for refugees.
Among the successful projects is Rock Trust, receiving £47,000 to support A Way Home Scotland, a national coalition to end youth homelessness
Housing Minister Kevin Stewart said: “Tackling and preventing homelessness and improving housing is of utmost importance as we work to make sure everyone in Scotland has a safe and warm place to call home.
“The third sector plays a vital role in supporting many of Scotland’s most vulnerable people, who can be faced with anxiety over their housing situation and the possible threat of homelessness. These projects will offer invaluable advice and support to help tackle those issues.
“We are clear in our commitment to tackling and ending homelessness and recognise that this requires more than just the provision of housing as every individual has their own unique needs and challenges. That’s why I’m delighted to announce this funding, which will help provide support for so many across Scotland.”
Rock Trust Chief Executive Katie Polson said: “We are delighted to receive an award through the Scottish Governments Housing Voluntary Grant scheme. This will enable us to drive forward the work of the A Way Home Scotland coalition which aims to end youth homelessness in Scotland.
“The coalition will support organisations across Scotland to develop systems and practices in their local area to ensure that young people are able to avoid, resolve and move on from homelessness using youth specific methods. The post which is funded will ensure that young people are leading the solutions and are able to share and develop them in each local area.”
Seventeen organisations will receive funding for 2018/2019. Grants are awarded to support existing services provided by third sector organisations to deliver housing related projects and services.
Further information on the Housing Voluntary Grant Scheme is available here online.
Organisations to be offered funding in 2018/19:
| Organisation | Proposed funding | Project summary |
| Age Scotland | £ 94,000 | Provide information and advice to older people |
| Housing Support Enabling Unit (HSEU) | £116,000 | Assist providers of housing support to have a voice in policy making |
| Legal Services Agency | £ 43,944 | Preventing Homelessness Project extends the model of developing, testing and disseminating legal remedies |
| Move On Ltd | £ 25,000 | Assisting young people at threat of homelessness through peer support & education |
| Housing Options Scotland | £257,431 | Independent advice, information and support services on housing options, to disabled people, veterans and older people |
| Glasgow Centre of Inclusive Living | £ 49,000 | National resource for disabled people who are looking for a suitable home in either the private or social rented sector. |
| Positive Action in Housing | £ 53,000 | Housing advice and support service for BME people and refugees |
| PATH Scotland | £ 85,750 | Training and Education Programme for BME and refugee communities plus after care support to trainees. |
| Say Women | £ 60,420 | Offers safe, supported accommodation and related services for young women who are survivors of childhood sexual abuse, rape or sexual assault and who are homeless or threatened with homelessness |
| Scottish Churches Housing Action | £ 59,000 | Supports a range of services and activities including training for volunteers involved in local starter pack’s projects and befriending networks |
| Scottish Refugee Council | £132,000 | Overcoming barriers facing refugees looking to secure their first tenancy, to improve the housing experience for refugees in Scotland |
| Scottish Women’s Aid | £ 72,345 | Tackling and preventing homelessness for women who are victims of domestic abuse |
| Homeless Action Scotland | £168,000 | Facilitates national homelessness networks |
| Shelter Scotland | £183,000 | To provide access to specialist legal expertise and representation on housing issues across Scotland |
| Scottish Homelessness Involvement Empowerment Network (SHIEN) | £ 50,000 | Ensures that service users across Scotland have as many opportunities as possible to influence the policies, practices and perceptions that affect them |
| Tenant Information Service (TIS) / Tenant Participation (TPAS) Advisory Service
(joint application) |
£ 99,700 | Develop tailored support to four new Regional Networks to advance their skills and influence national housing policy |
| Rock Trust | £ 47,000 | Supports A Way Home Scotland, a national coalition to end youth homelessne |