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Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Action Group

Overview

The Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Action Group (HARSAG) was set up to recommend to Scottish Government Ministers the actions and solutions needed to eradicate rough sleeping and transform the use of temporary accommodation in Scotland.

HARSAG also advised Ministers on how to ensure the recommendations are successfully implemented to secure rapid change and improvement towards the Government's goals.

The group has published recommendations on:

HARSAG was reconvened in June 2020 to provide recommendations to the Scottish Government on action needed during the coronavirus pandemic and in the future to end homelessness. 
Tackling homelessness in Scotland following the coronavirus pandemic final report

The group also published recommendations in November 2017 for immediate actions to reduce rough sleeping during winter 2017-2018:

On behalf of HARSAG, Social Bite commissioned Indigo House to consult on and create a planning and implementation framework to help local authorities and their partners to transition to a rapid rehousing approach. The guidance, transition tool and market area analysis can be found on the on the Social Bite website.

HARSAG contributed to the joint Ending homelessness together action plan by the government and the third sector, published in November 2018.  

 

Members

  • Jon Sparkes, Crisis (Chair)
  • Russell Barr, Former Moderator, Church of Scotland
  • Maggie Brunjes, Homeless Network Scotland
  • Mike Dailly, Govan Law Centre
  • David Duke, Street Soccer
  • Suzanne Fitzpatrick, Heriot Watt University
  • Josh Littlejohn, Social Bite
  • Lorraine McGrath, Simon Community/Streetwork
  • Susanne Miller, Glasgow City Council
  • John Mills, Fife Council & ALACHO
  • Shona Stephen, Queens Cross Housing Association
  • Alison Watson, Shelter Scotland

Documents

Policies