Rapid Rehousing sub-group minutes: November 2025

Attendees and apologies

• John Mills, Association of Local Authority Chief Housing Officers (ALACHO) (Chair)
• Christine Robertson, Aberdeenshire Council
• April Thomson, Falkirk Council
• Douglas Whyte, Argyll and Bute Council
• Amanda Pidgeon, Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA)
• Maggie Brunjes, Homeless Network Scotland
• Louise Wylie, Coalition of Care and Support Providers in Scotland (CCPS)
• Grant Campbell , Homeless Network Scotland
• Mike Wright, Edinburgh Cyrenians
• Brian Finch, Scottish Government
• Kerry Shaw, Scottish Government
• Angela McPhail, Scottish Government
• John Sharkey, Scottish Government (minute taker)

Apologies

• Jonathan Belford, Chief Officer, Finance, Aberdeen City Council
• Ruth Robin, Health Improvement Scotland
• Donna McIlwraith, North Ayrshire Council
• Tim Pogson, Scotland’s Housing Network

Items and actions

Item 1 - Introductions, minute and actions 

John Mills opened the meeting. The minutes of the meeting of 6 August were agreed and there were no outstanding actions.  

Action: John Mills asked that a note of 6 August meeting and todays meeting be submitted to the next HPSG for their information.

Item 2 - Scottish Government update 

Brian Finch gave an update from the Scottish Government Homelessness Unit, providing updates on:

•    2024-25 Annual Homelessness Statistics published by the Scottish Government 
•    the Scottish Government Housing Emergency Action Plan
•    Fund to Leave – for women and children experiencing domestic abuse
•    Temporary Accommodation Standards Framework consultation 
•    Discretionary Housing Payments
•    Care Leavers sub group  
•    2024-25 RRTP monitoring returns 
•    Homelessness Prevention and Strategy Group meeting held on 8 October 
•    Pause of Homelessness Statistics Data Review 

In response to a question from Maggie and Annabel, Kerry provided some clarity on the £3 million Housing First capital funding provided by Scottish Government in 2025-26 and also on the £1 million Housing First (RRTP) funding uplift in 2025-26, both of which were announced as part of the Scottish Government Housing Emergency Action Plan.

Item 3 - Prevent duties – next steps

Angela McPhail provided an update on the homelessness prevention duties and advised on the next steps with the Housing Scotland Bill having received Royal Assent on 6 November and now becoming the 2025 Housing (Scotland) Act. She confirmed that an amendment was passed at Stage 2 of the Housing Bill that requires the duties must start 3 years after Royal Assent, if not already commenced.

Next steps for the prevention duties includes, engaging with relevant bodies, including local authorities, on drafting of guidance and re-visiting a survey of local authorities on resource implications of the Act.

Item 4 - Preventative rapid rehousing: the next phase

Maggie Brunjes provided an update and produced a report for the group following a series of consultation meetings with the housing options hubs on a proposal for the next phase for RRTPs, which she presented to the sub group at the previous meeting of 6 August. 

The group agreed on Homeless Network Scotland working specifically with a housing options hub or group of local authorities to pilot the proposal before any decision is made on implementation. 

Item 5 - Roundtable updates

Housing options hubs

The group discussed and responded to the key issues submitted by the Hubs in advance of the meeting: 
Q: When do you anticipate advising of allocated RRTP funding for next financial year. 
A: Letter was issued recently to all local authorities advising on the allocated RRTP funding for the next financial year 2026-27.
Q: Is it the intention for RRTP workstreams to work in parallel with prevention duties and “Ask and Act”. 
A: Yes, that is the intention as exemplified by Maggie Brunjes during the previous agenda item, through the RRTP next steps proposal currently being taken forward. 
Q: What is the view on sustainable funding model for prevention for future. 
A: This is still to be established and revisiting the survey on resourcing with local authorities, as well as discussions with Cosla and with relevant bodies will help inform future funding. 
Q: Is there any intention of organising peer reviews for RRTP.
A:  Measuring how far local authorities have come in the process will be helpful and once the review of the 2024-25 RRTP monitoring returns is completed the group can return to this point.

Coalition of care and support providers in Scotland 

Louise Wylie discussed issues with the planning surrounding emergency early release of prisoners with the group. John Mills confirmed that issues around emergency early release have been raised through ALACHO and will arrange for Tony Cain from ALACHO to update Louise on this.  

Item 6 – AOB

There was no other business and the date of the next meeting was proposed as March/April.