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Shelter warns homelessness will worsen as project closes

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Published Date: 03 March 2009
HOUSING charity Shelter has warned that the closure of one of its most successful projects due to funding cuts will lead to more people being made repeatedly homeless.
The Shelter Families Project, which has helped 415 families deal with homelessness during ten years in Edinburgh, is closing its Newhaven Road facility after failing to secure council funding.

Its services will now be provided by the other succes
sful bidders for the council's nine homelessness contracts.

Alison Watson, head of services at Shelter Scotland, said: "We've been desperately trying to find a lifeline to continue it. But this has proven impossible and this project, which was ironically started with the support of Edinburgh Council, will now have to close.

"Our worry is that the repeat homelessness this project is so successful at breaking, will start to emerge again in the future."

In January the council put contracts worth £14 million out to tender, dividing the money into five lots.

Councillor Paul Edie, housing leader said: "Homelessness services have been commissioned following a robust tendering process. which was based on finding the best quality providers. We are working with Shelter to make sure all service users transfer to a new provider."





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  • Last Updated: 03 March 2009 10:26 AM
  • Source: Edinburgh Evening News
  • Location: Edinburgh
  • Related Topics: Homelessness
 
1

elayne,

03/03/2009 13:01:22
repeated homelessness??surely once is enough,how does one become repeatedly homeless???answers please!
2

alfonsa pedrosa,

embra 03/03/2009 13:09:05
Crazy,why does the council not step in and help this excellent cause.
3

fatwendy,

waverly 03/03/2009 13:23:57
Another provider? Hang your head in shame Paul Edie you have put more people in bed and breakfast accommodation than any other council before you.
4

salmondella,

03/03/2009 14:23:45
Edinburgh should follow Midlothians example of housing homeless in good quality temporary housing and then providing them with a council house when they have qualified under the allocation system.
5

Lonemom,

03/03/2009 17:08:55
I cannot believe this has happened!! As a previous service user the help i received from them were First class! My children and i were in Temp accommodation for 6 months and it was horrendous but the staff at Shelter for families were amazing and I'm sad and angry to see this much needed support for families in difficult times close. My family along with other families were even involved in an art exhibition last year within the council foyer AND Holyrood so that this vital service DIDN'T get cut! I was made homeless through a private tenancy being revoked - now who do families like mine turn to because you definitely cannot count on the support needed within the council homeless sector that's for sure!! Shelter for families gave us more than just support they made my family feel like there was something to look forward for!! Mr Edie I beg you to rethink your decision before its too late!!!
6

FamilyMan,

Edinburgh 03/03/2009 17:18:21
#4 "Edinburgh should follow Midlothians example of housing homeless in good quality temporary housing and then providing them with a council house when they have qualified under the allocation system."

I have heard that Midlothian Council is booking their homeless into "quality temporary housing" in Edinburgh rather than within their own boundaries, thus creating additional demand for such spaces in Edinburgh. Hardly exemplary!
7

Lonemom,

03/03/2009 17:30:16
I actually know of a friend who was told by midlothian council that they wouldn't book her into homeless accommodation while she was with her partner - her partner had to go stay with his mum for 4 weeks while they booked her into a Leith B&B WITH two children under 5!! Now isn't that supposed to be illegal now? It was only through the advice and support FROM Shelter Families Project that she and her partner were reunited in a temp flat within midlothian (it just miraculously appeared after they threatened to go to the papers)
Again without their support she was oblivious and isolated - Could it be that Edinburgh Council have taken the funding because they weren't afraid to stand up for vulnerable families??
8

elayne,

03/03/2009 19:58:44
people who are evicted because they are jakies/bad neighbours/junkies etc should not be housed full stop!but those who lose home through no fault of their own should be given a chance,the system is clogged up with people waiting for houses while those who abuse the system are housed with little questions asked

 

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