Housing First – Turning Point Scotland

Delivering a Housing First approach which flips the Homelessness staircase model on its head by supporting people with multiple and enduring support needs to move into a tenancy without having to prove they are ready for it.

The aim of Housing First is to ensure vulnerable customers with multiple complex needs who do not meet the criteria for Adult Supported Accommodation and Residential Placement Panel are provided with stable and affordable accommodation with intensive wraparound support to help them recover from any needs they may have such as mental health, substance misuse issues and help them to sustain their tenancies. Many of the customers coming through this programme also have experience of the criminal justice system.

The principles of Housing First are:

• Access to permanent housing with no housing readiness requirements
• Service user has choice and control
• Individualised and service user driven supports for as long as needed
• Housing and support are separate
• A harm reduction approach is adopted
• Social and community integration

• All genders
• Middle-aged adult (36-55), Older adult (56 and older), Young adult (18-35)

• Other

The criteria for the project are that the service user:

• Demonstrates entrenched homelessness over a significant period of time
• Is over the age of 26
• Has a current or historical dependency on alcohol or drugs which may also be linked to mental health issues
• A history of cyclical offending behaviour

Currently referrals into the project are via the Housing Options and Homeless Service but referral routes from other services and agencies will be introduced as the project develops.

dumfries&galloway@turningpointscotland.com

01387 247123