Housing Services' partnership with the Rock Trust was created in December 2020, and this is when we launched Housing First for Youth.
As part of our Ending Homelessness Together Programme Board (previously RRTP - Rapid Rehousing Transition Plan), Housing Services have gone on to work in collaboration with four providers to deliver Housing First.
In March 2023, we began to include those aged over 25 and worked with Bethany Christian Trust, Fife Women's Aid, and Turning Point Scotland.
Housing First provides someone with a home as quickly as possible and gives them access to intensive support to help them keep their home. It aims to reduce harm, maximise choice and encourage positive change.
There are seven principles of Housing First:
- People have the right to a home
- Flexible support is provided for as long as it's needed
- Housing and support are separated
- Individuals have choice and control
- An active engagement approach is used
- The service is based on peoples’ strengths, goals and aspirations
- A harm reduction approach is used
Housing First is a new way of working, and it's different from anything we’ve done before. Housing First is person-centred and not to be mistaken as mainstream Housing Support. The customer will be offered a secure tenancy, in an area where they want to live and where they will feel safe, with appropriate wraparound support for as long as they need it.
The offer of support stays with the customer. If they decide to move to a new area, or their tenancy fails, they are supported to avoid homelessness crisis. The aim is to prevent recurring homelessness.
The Housing First approach is proven to end homelessness for around 80% of people with high support needs.
Bethany Christian Trust
This is a national charity that's dedicated to ending homelessness, one person, one family, and one community at a time. It aims to relieve the suffering and meet the long-term needs of homeless and vulnerable people in Scotland. They will provide Housing First support to customers in North East Fife, Levenmouth and Glenrothes area.
Please visit Bethany Christian Trust for more information.
Fife Women’s Aid
This charity works Fife-wide. Their aim is to support women and children on the road to recovery. They specialise in supporting women experiencing domestic abuse who are homeless with high needs. Housing First wraparound support can be delivered in any housing environment where the women feel safe.
Please visit Fife Women's Aid for more information.
Rock Trust
This is a youth-specific homelessness charity. They aim to end youth homelessness in Scotland by ensuring that young people under the age of 25 have access to expert youth services. They assist them to avoid, survive, and move on from homelessness.
Please visit Rock Trust for more information.
Turning Point Scotland
This charity can support customers from Kirkcaldy to South West Fife area. Turning Point's approach to Housing First ensures people who are experiencing homelessness and have complex needs are supported directly into a permanent tenancy. This helps to provide a sense of belonging, increases feelings of self-worth, makes a person feel part of their community, and help them to move on from challenges they are facing, or have faced.
Please visit Turning Point Scotland for more information.
Housing First referrals
For a Housing First referral to be considered, the person must be a live homeless case, with evidence of more complex needs, such as:
- drugs/alcohol substance misuse
- mental health issues
- criminal behaviour
- social work involvement
- evictions, or
- revolving door homelessness
Referrals to the Housing First Service can be made by any service using the Housing First Referral form.
Housing Support Services
Housing Support referrals for all ages, visit the Short Term Housing Support page.
