The Scottish Government has called on the UK Government to take “immediate action” to end homelessness.
Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville has written to UK Government ministers on the Prime Minister’s ambition to end homelessness.
In a letter addressed to Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden, Ms Somerville said she “warmly welcomes” Andy Burnham’s recent commitment to end homelessness.
However, she said that progress to undertake this action in Scotland is being “held back by persistent UK policies including the Local Housing Allowance freeze and mismanagement of the asylum process”.
She continued: “I am asking for urgent action in the forthcoming budget by scrapping the freeze on Local Housing Allowance; increasing the move-on period for newly recognised refugees so they have the opportunity to secure permanent accommodation, rather than sticking to the current system that forces them to present as homeless to a local authority; and providing funding to local authorities to help them support these newly recognised refugees, as is done with all other refugees, where enabling local authority support helps reduce homelessness.
“We are taking action to mitigate the impact of the UK Government’s Local Housing Allowance freeze and benefit cap, but it is abundantly clear that we need to have the right policies in place at the UK Government level too.
“Working together we can end homelessness for good and therefore I urge you to take immediate action.”
In August, Mr Burnham announced extra funding to tackle homelessness including his plans to offer those sleeping rough a route off the streets this winter if they need it.
He also announced a national summit on tackling rough sleeping to take place in the autumn.
A UK Government spokesperson said: “Local housing allowance rates are reviewed annually and future decisions will be taken in the context of the Government’s welfare priorities, and the fiscal context.
“Renters across Scotland can access funding to help meet shortfalls in their rent through discretionary housing payments – which have been fully devolved to the Scottish Government.
“Numbers in asylum hotels have fallen to 16,000, down 50% in the past year and 71% from the September 2023 peak of 56,000. The Home Office will continue working with partners to reduce barriers and support moves out of asylum accommodation.”