Scottish Government COVID-19 guidance provided to Rapid Rehousing Welcome Centres: FOI release

Information requested

You asked for copies of Scottish Government COVID-19 guidance provided to Rapid Rehousing Welcome Centres.

Response

The Scottish Government has set the following objectives around the delivery of Rapid Rehousing Welcome Centre services:

• Providing a 24 hour accommodation and support service during the period of operation for people who would otherwise be sleeping rough, including people with no recourse to public funds

• Providing effective, person-centred support that meets individual needs in partnership with a range of services, including third sector, health, housing, justice, employability, welfare and legal

• Ensuring rapid move on is achieved at every opportunity and as early as possible

The processes by which Rapid Rehousing Welcome Centres meet these objectives are decided at a local level in partnership with the relevant authorities responsible for housing.

Following the First Minister’s lockdown announcement on 4 January, Rapid Rehousing Welcome Centres were asked to ensure that any capacity they had was utilised, with the aim of reducing the number of people rough sleeping to similar - or lower - levels to that achieved in the first lockdown. Providing self-contained accommodation with private bathroom facilities is particularly important considering the increased risk to life posed by both the virulent strain of coronavirus in circulation in conjunction with the colder weather post-Christmas.

 

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