Rapid Rehousing Transition Plans Sub Group minutes: March 2026

Attendees and apologies

•    John Mills (Chair)
•    Jules Oldham
•    Douglas Whyte
•    Brian Finch
•    Kerry Shaw
•    Jacqueline Fernie
•    Donna McIlwraith
•    Louise Wylie
•    Maggie Brunjes
•    Annabel Pidgeon
•    Christine Robertson
•    Mike Wright
•    Kevin Thomas
Apologies:  Tim Pogson
 

Items and actions

Apologies, minutes of previous meeting and action log 

Apologies were noted as above. 

The minutes of the meeting held on 19 November 2025 were noted and agreed.

The action log was reviewed. No outstanding actions were reported.

Scottish Government RRTP update 

Brian Finch provided an update on recent and ongoing Scottish Government activity relevant to rapid rehousing transition plans, including: the new housing agency; homelessness statistics publication; prevention funding and discretionary housing payments; and homeless deaths statistics. 

There was a discussion about homeless deaths statistics and rough sleeping. Members agreed there had been an increase in visible rough sleeping in Glasgow and Edinburgh and noted that rough sleeping is not a good outcome for the individual or those supporting them. 

The flow of families presenting for homelessness assistance from the private rented sector (PRS) was noted. Kevin Thomas shared analysis that households with children presenting as homelessness in North Ayrshire were twice as likely to come from the PRS. John Mills noted a similar trend in Fife and there is an outstanding commitment for the Chartered Institute of Housing to develop a strategic plan for the PRS. 

It was noted that the sub-group would welcome the opportunity to deep dive into some of the themes of the housing agency at a later date. 

Actions

• Streetwork to be invited to the next sub-group meeting to provide an update on rough sleeping in Glasgow and Edinburgh
• Douglas Whyte to share Glasgow University report on PRS in a rural setting 

Ending homelessness together and rapid rehousing - Maggie Brunjes

Maggie updated on the proposals to establish a RRTP check-up process, following engagement with Scottish Government and the housing options hubs. This process would support local authorities to develop and deliver rapid rehousing and engage in a peer-review process. It was noted that hubs had raised some concerns about the time commitment. It was therefore proposed that a foundational step be undertaken ahead of proceeding with the check-up process This step would deliver a state of the nation or foundational review of rapid rehousing, covering:

• a shared definition of rapid rehousing and its core method
• assessment of progress from transition into embedded practice
• integration of new prevention duties
• a consolidated view of local authority resource pressures
• potential to inform future annual check up processes

Broad support was expressed across the hubs for this more proportionate, staged approach. It was agreed that further progress should pause until after the parliamentary election, to allow engagement with incoming ministers.

Action:

• Maggie Anne Brunjes to reflect on timing and proposed next steps and report back to the group

Rural housing first - lead: Maggie Anne Brunjes

The group discussed proposals to expand the remit of the rural housing first group to form a national housing first advisory group with clearer strategic alignment.

Members agreed that:

• the group should become a formal subgroup of the RRTP sub group
• it should feed into national structures while retaining operational and practitioner level learning
• a balance should be maintained between strategic influence and local delivery insight 

Roundtable brief updates (Housing Options Hubs)

Members noted and thanked the housing options hubs for their written updates. Discussion focused on local connection and emerging system pressures, including:

• increased out of area presentations in some authorities, particularly following positive asylum decisions, but this is concentrated in the central belt
• cross border movement linked to differences between systems in Scotland and England
• pressures on temporary accommodation budgets and uncertainty for financial planning
• inconsistent transfer of support and care packages between local authorities

Section 38 transfers were discussed as a potentially more managed alternative to unplanned presentations. Some areas reported that pressures are increasingly driven by complexity of need rather than overall volume. The group agreed the position should continue to be monitored.

Housing first - Maggie Brunjes / Brian Finch

Housing first check up and rural housing first

An update was provided on the previous housing first check up, with a link to be shared with members. The next check up cycle will commence shortly, working through the housing options hubs during 2026/27.

Housing first monitoring and funding

• members queried the outcomes of £3m housing first capital investment. It was noted that funding was issued late in the financial year and many local authorities have carried funding forward into 2026/27

Action:

• Scottish Government to update the group on housing first spend and outcomes when data is available

Any other business 

Recent challenges relating to prison releases into local authorities were highlighted, particularly in the East Hub.
Limited use of digital engagement was identified as a contributing factor.

Action:

• East hub to explore this issue further at its next meeting

East Ayrshire Council was highlighted as an example of effective targeted acquisitions, significantly reducing the number of children in temporary accommodation. Members agreed there is value in capturing and sharing this learning nationally.

Action:

• housing options hubs to report examples of practice that have reduced children in temporary accommodation at the next meeting

Next Meeting

Date to be confirmed with preference for a mid-late June meeting.