That the Parliament welcomes the funding from the Scottish Government for a homeless prevention programme pilot in Wester Hailes, which is within the Edinburgh Pentlands constituency; notes that the System Wide Approach to Prevention will be known as SWAP-‘Ask and Act’ and will provide earlier interventions and practical support to help people at risk of homelessness stay in their homes; further notes the Ask and Act duties will be built into everyday services provided by partners in Wester Hailes, including NHS Lothian, Police Scotland, Prospect Community Housing, Social Security Scotland, Scottish Prison Service and Crisis; believes that this pilot will provide an opportunity for services to identify those who may need help earlier, offer support directly and refer them to the City of Edinburgh Council prevention services, and understands that across Scotland 15 projects are sharing £4 million through the Homelessness Prevention Pilot Fund, which is managed by Advice Direct Scotland for the Scottish Government, with City of Edinburgh Council receiving over £600,000 to deliver the pilot.
Supported by:
Jeremy Balfour, Miles Briggs, Bob Doris, Jackie Dunbar, Annabelle Ewing, Kenneth Gibson, Jamie Hepburn, Bill Kidd, Fulton MacGregor, Rona Mackay, Paul McLennan, Stuart McMillan, Audrey Nicoll, Kevin Stewart, Paul Sweeney, Annie Wells