Cyrenians responds to UK Budget announcements

Cyrenians welcomes the UK Government’s ambition on tackling rough sleeping in today’s Budget. However, rough sleeping is the logical conclusion of a long line of systemic failures. We’re calling on the Scottish Government to make sure the focus in Scotland is on stopping homelessness before it starts. 

In today's UK Budget, the Prime Minister announced an extra £430 million to tackle rough sleeping rough in England. That takes total funding to £874 million through to the end of this Parliament.  

The announcement came a day after new Scottish Government figures illustrated just how strained Scotland’s housing system has become. Last year, 8% fewer new homes were added to Scotland's housing stock, and councils let 14% fewer homes; all while the numbers of households trapped in temporary accommodation hit a record high.  

Kate Wallace, CEO of Cyrenians, said: 

“We welcome the Prime Minister’s ambition on rough sleeping, and the additional funding to back it. Getting people off the streets this winter matters. But this funding is focused on the crisis end of homelessness. The surest way to end rough sleeping is to stop people reaching that point in the first place. 

“We’re disappointed the Chancellor has kept the Local Housing Allowance freeze. If the Chancellor is serious about ending homelessness, he could stop making it harder for Scotland to do its job. Together with the bedroom tax, it costs the Scottish Government tens of millions pounds to mitigate, funding that could be better spent on funding prevention. 

“This week’s national housing statistics from Scottish Government show that fewer homes are coming up for let, and homeless households are waiting longer than ever. The message is clear: we can’t build our way out of this crisis. We have to prevent it. 

"The Scottish Government has taken welcome steps: £50 million committed to homelessness prevention, and this week’s extension of the Ask and Act duty prevention pilots. 

If Scotland is serious about rolling out prevention duties across the country, however, it needs a sustained, multi-year investment in a national prevention system."