Rapid Rehousing Transition Plan Sub Group minutes: January 2025

Attendees and apologies

John Mills, Association of Local Authority Chief Housing Officers (ALACHO) (chair)
Christine Robertson, Aberdeenshire Council
April Thomson, Falkirk Council
Donna Mcilwraith, North Ayrshire Council
Susie Fitton, Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA)
Annabel Pidgeon, Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA)
Douglas Whyte, Argyll and Bute Council
Maggie Brunjes, Homeless Network Scotland
Mike Wright, Edinburgh Cyrenians
Lee Valantine, South Lanarkshire Council
Jonathan Belford, Chief Officer, Finance, Aberdeen City Council
Emma Matthews, Coalition of Care and Support Providers in Scotland (CCPS) 
Brian Finch, Scottish Government
Kerry Shaw, Scottish Government
John Sharkey, Scottish Government (minute taker)

Apologies

Allan Jones, Aberdeenshire Council
Kevin Thomas, North Ayrshire Council
Ruth Robin, Health Improvement Scotland
Tim Pogson, Scotland’s Housing Network (SHN)

Items and actions

Introductions, minute and actions 

John welcomed Suzie Fitton from SFHA, who was attending in replacement of Eileen McMullan who recently retired. John wished to record his thanks to Eileen for her excellent contribution as a valued member of the group to the rapid rehousing programme.   
 
The minutes of the meeting of 11 July 2024 were agreed with two minor amendments. 

Scottish Government update 

Brian Finch gave an update from the Scottish Government homelessness unit, providing latest position on:

2023-24 Rapid Rehousing Transition Plan (RRTP) monitoring returns process:

28 out of 32 local authorities have submitted returns for 2023-24. Two of the four outstanding are imminent, and a further reminder will be issued to the other two. John Mills offered to contact the two local authorities concerned to see what help might be required.

Homelessness prevention duties: 

• the Housing (Scotland) Bill passed stage 1 in the Scottish Parliament in November
• timings for stage 2 will be advised by parliament, which is the stage where amendments can be proposed  
• stakeholder engagement will continue throughout 2025 to ensure that guidance and training meet practical needs 
• local authorities are encouraged to reach out if they would like to discuss any aspect of the homelessness prevention measures
• the Scottish Government prevention team provided an update at two housing options hub meetings in late 2024 and are available to attend additional forums as needed

Scottish budget 2025

Kerry provided a summary of the key elements of the budget relating to homelessness:

• £2m to transform empty properties
• £4m available to pilot and scale up prevention work
• £8m for RRTPs – distribution methodology still to be agreed by COSLA
• £1m grant funding in 2024-25 for registered socal landlords (RSL) and 3rd sector partners to fund work to help sustain tenancies and prevent homelessness

Donna felt future RRTP funding was important to help continue the good work being carried out by local authorities. John highlighted that local authorities will also need to plan an exit strategy for RRTP funding. Regarding year on year funding decisions, Kerry advised that ministers are aware of the uncertainty this can cause for local authorities and partners and are looking at how greater assurance of funding might be provided.

Christine asked about the £4m provision in the budget and whether there is any detail on that yet regarding how it may be distributed and whether local authorities will be able to access any of that funding. Kerry advised that no details on that are available yet but that she will update the group as soon as she has any information.

On the £1m fund earmarked for RSL and 3rd sector partners, Kerry confirmed that options are still being assessed on the rollout of this funding.  

Roundtable Updates

Housing Options Hubs

On behalf of the hub leads Lee asked about the monitoring and reporting arrangements for RRTPs in 2025/26, given that some local authorities are beginning to move away from having an actual RRTP towards a wider homelessness prevention plan, with rapid rehousing integrated. Kerry confirmed that the Scottish Government is likely to be consistent in its approach in asking local authorities to provide feedback on outcomes and progression towards a rapid rehousing model regardless of whether this is through an RRTP or another plan.   

Homeless Network Scotland

Maggie informed the group that the Everyone Home Collective is having an in-person awayday where focus will be on discussing the housing crisis and challenges for local authorities. Maggie will report back on this at the next RRTP sub group meeting. 

Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA)

Suzie asked what type of feedback from SFHA would be useful to the group for future meetings. 

Health and social care

John was aware that we haven’t had input from health and social care partners for the last few meetings and was keen to look at re-establishing this.

Coalition of Care and Support Providers in Scotland (CCPS) 

Emma highlighted the Supported Housing Review 2023 , research on supported housing supply, demand, funding and commissioning across Great Britain, carried out by the UK Ministry of housing communities and local government and DWP. 

Preventative Rapid Rehousing: the next phase

Maggie presented a discussion paper to the group that looks at what the next phase for rapid rehousing might look like. John proposed that members take time to consider the paper and feedback at the next RRTP Sub group meeting in March. He will also share the paper for the attention of the Homelessness Prevention and Strategy Group on 22 January. April offered to share the paper with colleagues at the East of Scotland Housing Options Hub. John thought that sharing it via the hubs  would be helpful in gathering views for a wider discussion at the next sub group meeting. 

Housing first (HF)

HF check up

Maggie confirmed that the HF checkup process is now two thirds of the way through.

Rural HF group

Christine advised that the rural HF meeting was rescheduled for February. 

HF monitoring

Brian discussed findings from the housing first monitoring reports for the period April to September 2024

• by 30 September 2024, an estimated total of 2,040 tenancies were started  
• between April 2024 and September 2024, 220 new tenancies were established - 183 new starts and 37 backdated  
• of those 1,206 tenancies, 1,003 are still active  
• sustainment rate shows 85% of tenancies continuing 12 months after starting 
• 203 have ended, with just one due to eviction 
• 190 children live in 109 tenancies across 17 local authorities 
• this compares with just 18 children two years ago 
• 4 local authorities, North Lanarkshire, Fife, Inverclyde and Renfrewshire provide 64% of tenancies with children
• additionally, 124 households have access to 198 children without full-time custody 

Following further discussion on the level of HF provision in Scotland it was agreed to restructure the agenda for the next meeting in order to have a closer look at upscaling of HF and also to have a deep dive into the future of rapid rehousing, taking account of the paper Preventative Rapid Rehousing: the next phase and any feedback from partners. 

Any other business

No other business was raised

Meeting closed