Housing first

The Greater Manchester mayor, Andy Burnham, says he is committed to adopting “a housing first philosophy like Finland,” in his effort to end rough sleeping. Burnham made the announcement at an event marking the success of Manchester’s own housing first pilot scheme. The scheme has supported 430 people with experience of homelessness into housing. Lauding the scheme’s success, Burnham continued: “It actually saves public money to do this [housing first],” he said. “It’s not as if we’re just asking for something, and it’s another pressure. The bigger you do housing first, the more you’ll save.”

Storm brewing

A troubling new law came into effect in Florida, USA, on 1 October. The bill, signed by governor Ron DeSantis in March this year, criminalises sleeping in public spaces. The mayor of Fort Lauderdale, Dean Trantalis, has rubbished the law, saying it will provoke a “tsunami of lawsuits” while doing nothing to solve homelessness in the state. Trantalis went further, calling the bill a “draconian mandate” which gives cities in the state “an onerous burden.” From 2022 to 2023, homelessness in Florida increased by 18.5%. Trantalis’s lawsuit comment references a clause in the bill allowing legal action to be taken against any municipality that fails to reduce rough sleeping.

Café Art’s MyLondon calendar is available for pre-sale, after a Crowdfunder was launched in August. The MyLondon project sees 100 Fujifilm QuickSnap single-use film cameras given to people experiencing homelessness in the capital. Roughly more than 2,100 photos are taken in a seven-day period. A selection of 25 photos is picked from these 2,100, with 13 chosen for the 2025 calendar.

• Learn more about Café Art and the MyLondon project on its website: www.cafeart.org.uk/mylondon
  

Tourist tax

A new tourist tax in Edinburgh will pay for the building of council homes, the city council claims. Councillors estimate the tax could raise up to £50m a year, which Cammy Day, the council leader, plans to use to ease the city’s housing crisis. Day has earmarked £5m of the annual income to be spent on borrowing £70m to build new council housing and other affordable homes. Overall, Day wants to spend 50% of the new tax revenues on housing programmes and improving public spaces.

Emergency again

Following the declaration of a national housing emergency by the Scottish government in May, councillors in Aberdeen have declared a housing emergency in the city. The council plans to write to the Scottish and UK governments to demand immediate support. The announcement arrived in September, following a meeting of Aberdeen’s housing committee. The action has been backed by homelessness charities and organisations, including Shelter. Gordon MacRae, assistant director of Shelter Scotland, told the BBC a “whole city view” was required to tackle the housing crisis.

From 7 August to 20 September 2024, the Saatchi Gallery in west London held an exhibition featuring artwork by artists with experience of homelessness. Homelessness: Reframed displayed works by artists from the UK and abroad. Promotional material for the show said the “exhibition will bring to life the breadth and complexities of homelessness across the country and give people an opportunity to engage with, and better understand, the stories of those with experience of homelessness.”

Gimme shelter

Campaigners have held a protest in Glasgow city centre against the closure of a homeless shelter. Homeless Project Scotland, based at 67 Glassford Street has been ordered to shut down by Glasgow City Council, though it has up until 18 October this year to appeal the decision. The shelter takes in around 35 people a night. The council claims it was forced to serve notice of closure after an unauthorised change of use of the building, as well as complaints from residents and businesses. The premises was apparently changed from an office to an overnight shelter without the requisite planning permission, according to the BBC.

Drawing a zipline

A 90-year-old Glaswegian pensioner ziplined over the Clyde to help homeless people in the city. Gladys Speedie was raising money for Glasgow City Mission, a Christian charitable organisation. Gladys told the Glasgow Times: “Having lived a long life I don't recall the issue of homelessness like I see it now. I only hope I can raise awareness of the need to give help now. Every little would help but more would be better!” Now, while the Pavement salutes her efforts, it says something about the state of funding for homelessness services and charities that a nonagenarian felt inclined to zipline over the Clyde…

The Museum of Homelessness (MoH) was founded, created and run by people with lived experience of being homeless. Each year it publishes information on people who died experiencing homelessness, as part of the Dying Homeless project. They also hold a vigil for those who passed, usually around the start of spring. However, this year the vigil is being held on 17 October, outside Downing Street, London, to coincide with the release of the latest figures from the Dying Homeless project.

Lawmakers/breakers

Edinburgh Council is breaking the law by placing homeless people in unlicensed houses in multiple occupation across the city. The number of households in temporary accommodation across the city has risen to more than 5,000 from 3,570 at the start of lockdown in 2020, with around £50m a year spent on temporary accommodation, reports the Edinburgh Evening News. The council’s own regulations require houses in multiple occupation to be licensed to ensure the safety of residents, a requirement the council has ignored when sourcing accommodation for people experiencing homelessness.

StreetsFest, the annual day festival run by StreetsKitchen, took place on 12 September. The festival, run in partnership with a number of organisations and with the support of Haringey Council and Islington Council, was held in Finsbury Park, London, close to the Museum of Homelessness by Manor House station. The festival featured a variety of services for people experiencing homelessness, including health services, a hairdresser, showers, food and live music and entertainment.

• StreetsKitchen runs several food outreach services across London. For more information, including where and when, see the List.
  

Village Vision

Vermont Construction Group will build a 40-home Embassy Village for the charity Embassy, addressing homelessness in Manchester. Set on land owned by Peel Waters, this modular housing project aims for completion in 2025. The village will offer modular homes for 40 homeless men and include a village hall, green spaces, allotments and a sports area. The Moulding Foundation has donated £3.5m for the first 24 homes, with an additional £1m needed for the rest. Embassy co-founder Sid Williams highlighted the project's sustainable, long-term strategy, aiding residents in finding work and managing homes.

Eviction epidemic

London’s streets are seeing more and more rough sleepers, driven by a dramatic rise in no-fault evictions. More than 1,500 renters found themselves homeless last year after being evicted by their landlords, as reported by the Big Issue. With a staggering 11,993 people seen sleeping rough in 2023/24, a 19% increase from the previous year, the crisis deepens. The delay in abolishing Section 21 evictions leaves many at risk, pushing them out with as little as two months’ notice. Campaigners and advocacy groups emphasise that the increase in homelessness is not just a statistic but a stark reminder of the real lives disrupted, as women, children and elderly individuals are left in extremely vulnerable and dangerous situations with nowhere to turn.

André by his Big Issue pitch. © Nick Cornwall
Book corner: André Rostant had his first book published by the Arkbound Foundation in July. The Muffin Man draws on André’s own experience as a Big Issue vendor, touching on the themes of homelessness, isolation and alienation. Speaking at the book’s launch, André said: “I want the book to make people challenge their own personal assumptions about street sleepers.”

• You can read André’s debut piece in the Pavement on page 14. To find out more about The Muffin Man, visit the Arkbound website here: arkbound.com/product/the-muffin-man-by-andre-rostant
  

Safe Haven?

Thousands of Ukrainian refugees in the UK face homelessness and exploitation, according to the British Red Cross. Over 9,000 of the 200,000 families staying in the UK risk homelessness due to strained relationships with hosts and difficulties in the housing market. Homelessness is four times more common among Ukrainians than the general UK population. There were 379 new arrivals weekly between February and mid-June 2024. Some have faced dire situations, including unsuitable housing and exploitation, with many being left to sleep on beaches and benches after being made homeless at unsociable hours. The British Red Cross urges the government to improve support and create effective resettlement plans. It is calling for increased assistance for private rental market entry and affordable housing. A report with Heriot-Watt University predicts 6,220 Ukrainian families will seek homelessness support by the end of 2024, a 13% increase from the previous year​.

Rising hope

Hope Rise, a ground-breaking project by ZED PODS, Bristol City Council, Bristol Housing Festival, and YMCA, has introduced the UK's first 100% affordable, net-zero carbon housing development. Situated atop a car park, this innovative project comprises 11 homes for vulnerable young people at risk of homelessness. It utilises precision-engineered modular construction, significantly reducing on-site disruption and ensuring high energy efficiency. With solar panels and energy-efficient systems, the homes are designed to minimise running costs.

Heartless Home Office

In an appalling display of bureaucratic failure, Thelma Campbell, an 89-year-old Windrush generation member, faces eviction and homelessness. Despite six decades of contributing to Britain, the Home Office cannot confirm her identity, denying her a British passport. With her Tottenham home deemed uninhabitable, London’s Haringey Council refuses to rehouse her without this critical document. As her family and community watch on outraged, this shocking case highlights the devastating mental toll on our elderly Windrush community, as they face life-disrupting events, loneliness, and homelessness under a heartless system that fails to recognise its hardworking citizens.

Chairman of the Seoul 2024 Homeless World Cup Lee Kuen-Ho poses with an AFC player of the tournament trophy in 2012. © AP Photo
Football for change: Big Issue Korea and the Seoul 2024 Local Organising Committee (LOC) have appointed former Korea Republic footballer Lee Keun-Ho as Chairman of the Seoul 2024 Homeless World Cup. Lee, who played 84 times for his country and scored at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, will guide the preparations for this transformative event. Set to take place at Hanyang University in September, the tournament will feature 64 teams from 49 countries, including over 500 players who have experienced homelessness. This eight-day festival of football aims to inspire change and raise awareness about homelessness through the universal language of sport. Lee expressed his honour and excitement in leading this initiative, emphasising that “by hosting this prestigious tournament, we [South Korea and the tournament organisers] will use football as a common interest to many across Korea and the world, raising awareness of the importance of housing rights, calling for change, and to expand social empathy around the global issue of homelessness.”

Future is now

Shelter, with 22 offices across England and Scotland, advised over 31,000 households in 2023. With the continuing housing crisis, the demand for its services has soared. Shelter has partnered with technology firm Ciptex to ‘enhance’ its efforts in supporting individuals at risk of homelessness. The new system – a multi-channel self-service contact centre powered by Ciptex’s technology – claims to provide personalised support, assigning each caller their own advisor and freeing up mainline advisors to tackle urgent cases.
But the ‘streamlined’ service delivery comes with a disappointing modern twist. AI-powered chatbots will be tasked with managing inquiries, removing a human element to the service. Strangely, Simon Weeks, CEO of Ciptex, suggested in a press release the collaboration is a bold step towards addressing homelessness with compassion.

• Find out more about what help and advice Shelter can offer you at: england.shelter.org.uk/get_help
  

Sight support

Scotland’s first eyecare clinic specifically for homeless individuals has opened at the Crisis Skylight Centre in Edinburgh, funded by Specsavers. This clinic, managed by Vision Care for Homeless People (VCHP), offers free eyecare services and operates from the new wellness floor, which also supports various health services. Over 60 attendees, including representatives from Crisis, VCHP and Specsavers, attended the opening event. Mark Kennedy of Crisis Skylight and Jenny Stephenson of Specsavers stressed the importance of making eyecare accessible to all. VCHP founder Elaine Styles praised the clinic, which includes a dispense area, as a testament to their partnership's success. This initiative aims to ensure equitable eyecare access and advocates for policy changes to better serve the homeless community. The collaboration hopes to expand these vital services and improve health outcomes for those experiencing homelessness​.

Swift removal

Ahead of Taylor Swift's concerts in Edinburgh in June, some homeless people have been relocated to Aberdeen and Glasgow due to a shortage of accommodation. Shelter Scotland criticised this as a “blatant injustice,” stating that homeless people should not compete with tourists for lodging. Edinburgh City Council is working to find alternative housing for those affected. The council attributed the issue to a broader housing emergency declared in November, marked by record homelessness, a shortage of social housing and high private rental costs. The Scottish government also declared a national housing emergency, emphasising the urgent need for a different approach. Shelter Scotland director Alison Watson highlighted the injustice, noting that families should not be forced miles from their communities, although the council maintains that using tourist accommodation for homeless households is a last resort​.

Housing Limbo

Linda McVean, a mother from Glasgow, has urgently called for action as she grieves the loss of her son, Frankie McVean, who was stuck in housing limbo. Her plea has highlighted a devastating issue: over 160 people have died in temporary accommodation due to the city’s housing crisis. Sarah Brown, whose son died waiting for permanent housing, urges urgent action. “We need safe, stable homes, not temporary fixes,” she said. Her call comes as Glasgow City Council faces intense scrutiny over systemic failures in providing adequate housing. The council has declared a housing emergency, acknowledging unprecedented pressures and urging both UK and Scottish governments for more funding. These tragedies underscore the dire need for immediate solutions to prevent further loss of life in Glasgow's housing limbo.

Temporary solutions

Homelessness in Glasgow has surged, with nearly 3,000 children now in temporary accommodation. The formerly SNP-run council’s housing emergency declaration has failed to curb the crisis. Labour MSP Mark Griffin criticised soaring rents, unaffordable mortgages and record homelessness, accusing the SNP of exacerbating the issue by slashing affordable housing funds. As of June, 7,371 people were in temporary accommodation, up from 7,265 in April, with £27m spent on private hotels and B&Bs in 2023/24 for the homeless. Campaigners demand immediate restoration of housing budgets and increased secure, permanent, social housing. In July’s general election, Scottish Labour won all six seats in the city.

Grand opening

The Museum of Homelessness (MoH) opened its doors to the public for the first time on 24 May. Situated close to Manor House entrance to Finsbury Park, north London, MoH has refurbished the groundskeeper's lodge in the park and has run a series of workshops for people experiencing homelessness in the buildup to officially opening. The museum's first show at its new home is called How to Survive the Apocalypse, an immersive exhibition drawing on MoH’s front-line experience supporting the homeless community on London. The exhibition will be open on Fridays and Saturdays through to November 2024.

• For more information on How to Survive the Apocalypse and the museum’s calendar of events, visit the webpage here: museumofhomelessness.org/whats-on
• Learn more about the MoH’s work on its website: museumofhomelessness.org

© Centre for Homelessness Impact
The Together Through Homelessness project, run by Dogs Trust, passed an impressive milestone in April, supporting 10,000 dogs with over 30,000 free vet treatments since the project began. The project provides free emergency and routine veterinary care to the dogs of people experiencing homelessness across the UK. Commenting on the milestone and the project’s work, James Hickman, Head of Outreach Projects at Dogs Trust, said in a press release: “For many people experiencing homelessness, their dog is more than just a faithful companion; they are family.”

• To find a service working with the Together Through Homelessness project near you, check out the Dogs Trust website’s interactive map here: dogstrusthopeproject.org.uk/help-with-vet-care/where-we-work
  

Plan panned

Draconian plans to criminalise rough sleepers for being deemed "a nuisance" or having an "excessive smell" have been dropped by ministers, after Tory MPs threatened to rebel against the proposal. Former home secretary Suella Braverman brought forward the proposal, wishing to tack it onto the heavily criticised criminal justice bill. For now, the plan, much like its architect, has been binned. Announcing the scrapping of the proposal, home secretary James Cleverly also promised the government will be “scrapping the outdated Vagrancy Act and replacing it with new measures that focus on supporting people”.

Publishing news

A new publishing imprint has been established to give a platform to authors with experience of homelessness. The Arts Council has provided funding to support Unheard Voices, an imprint hosted by The Endless Bookcase, an existing publishing company based in St Albans. The imprint’s start-up grant from the Arts Council will cover production and publishing costs for up to five new authors in fiction, poetry or non-fiction.

• See the Unheard Voices advert in the centre pages of the magazine for information on how to get your writing published

© Christopher Hoggins
Book club: a new book about homelessness was released earlier this year. Roof-less is the firsthand experience of Christopher Hoggings, who was caught up in the UK’s housing crisis and experienced homelessness, family loss and an autism diagnosis in quick succession. Hoggings writes that the book tells the story of the housing crisis “in words and pictures,” featuring as it does his artwork (he designed the cover image seen to the left).

• Find out more about the book or order a copy yourself here:
  www.etsy.com/listing/1688134479/roof-less-the-housing-crisis-in-words?etsrc=sdt
  
  

New housing bill

The Scottish Government published new legislation in late March affecting people at risk of or experiencing homelessness. The Housing (Scotland) Bill introduces an 'ask and act' duty on social landlords and bodies, such as the police and health settings, to ask about a person's housing situation and act to prevent homelessness where possible. Included in the bill are reforms to provide for people threatened with homelessness up to six months ahead, with provisions also being made for tenants experiencing domestic abuse. Elsewhere in the bill there is a proposal for long-term rent controls for private tenancies. Loss of private tenancy is a leading cause of homelessness in the UK. Housing minister Paul McLennan told Scottish Housing News: “Early action, through the kinds of measures included in the Housing Bill, results in fewer people reaching the point of housing crisis. It also means people facing homelessness have more choice and control over where they live”.

• You can read the bill and its proposals online here:
  www.parliament.scot/bills-and-laws/bills/housing-scotland-bill-session-6/introduced
  

Closing shop

Right There, an Edinburgh charity, has said it has been forced to close two of its homeless accommodation sites in the capital by the City of Edinburgh Council. Third Force News (TFN) reports the council’s refusal to pass on an uplift in housing benefit to increase the housing management payment to the charity led to the decision, which also puts the jobs of 19 support workers at risk. The facilities house up to 44 people experiencing homelessness at a time. Speaking to TFN, Janet Haugh, CEO of Right There, said: “We have done everything in our power to resolve this with the Council but sadly as a charity we simply cannot absorb a projected £2.5 million deficit over the next five years and continue running this service.”

© the Pavement
Beat the heat: summer heat can be deadly, so it’s important to stay hydrated. Most major train stations in Edinburgh, Glasgow and London will have free refill fountains like the one pictured above, taken in Islington, London. Places open to the public such as libraries and museums will also usually have free water refill fountains.

• For more tips on staying safe this summer, see Groundswell health advice on page 21
  
  
  

National emergency

The Scottish government announced a national housing crisis in May. The emergency was called a week after John Swinney was named first minister, replacing Humza Yousaf. Swinney and the government faced calls to declare an emergency by a number of local authorities, including Glasgow and Edinburgh. Although the declaration has been welcomed by councils and charities, it doesn't come with additional funding, nor has any new policy been put into action. Instead, the declaration of a housing emergency represents an acknowledgement by the government of the dire situation. Quoted in the Big Issue, housing minister Paul McLennan suggested the government will invest £600m in affordable housing, while also introducing rent controls.

Council failures

In an alarming report, the Scottish Housing Regulator (SHR) has identified eight local authorities at risk of “systemic failure” in delivering homelessness services. The SHR's risk assessment of social landlords found the following councils are failing to meet demand for homelessness services: Aberdeen City, Dumfries and Galloway, Dundee City, East Lothian, East Renfrewshire, Fife, Stirling and West Lothian. Last December the SHR announced Glasgow and Edinburgh are experiencing "systemic failure" in their homelessness services. Inside Housing shared a worrying line from the SHR report: “From our [SHR's] ongoing engagement with all local authorities, we anticipate that the position for many will continue to deteriorate in the short to medium term.”