Glasgow homelessness prevention scheme gets funding boost

The Ask and Act model aims to identify people at risk of homelessness sooner and connect them with help before their situation reaches a crisis point.

It was the focus of a major conference held in Glasgow and convened by Advice Direct Scotland in partnership with the Scottish Government.

The Ask and Act model was the focus of a major conference held in Glasgow and convened by Advice Direct Scotland (Image: Robbie Thomson)

The event at the University of Strathclyde brought together more than 380 delegates from across housing, health, justice and the third sector.

It was attended by representatives from 26 local authorities, eight NHS boards, five universities, 24 housing associations and more than 40 third sector organisations.

Speakers at the event included broadcaster Sally Magnusson, Community Justice Scotland chief executive Karyn McCluskey, University of Glasgow housing economics professor Ken Gibb, and University of Stirling chair of social policy Professor Vikki McCall.

The Ask and Act model was the focus of a major conference held in Glasgow and convened by Advice Direct Scotland (Image: Robbie Thomson)

Simita Kumar, Minister for Equalities and International Development, said: "I was pleased to join today’s Ask and Act conference and see so many partners from housing, health, justice and the third sector coming together with a shared focus on preventing homelessness.

"Helping people before they reach crisis point can make a real difference to their lives.

"We heard how earlier intervention can help identify housing problems sooner and connect people with the right support before they lose their home.

"Partners work together to spot the warning signs of homelessness, helping people stay in their homes, maintain stability for their families, and avoid the trauma and disruption that homelessness can cause.

"Those practical lessons are helping us understand what works on the ground, which is why we are providing almost £1 million of additional funding to extend the pilot projects.

"With new homelessness prevention duties coming into force in 2028, this work is about making sure public services work together to offer help earlier, prevent problems from escalating, and reduce the number of people who experience homelessness.

"By embedding prevention into everyday services, we can provide support when it is needed most and improve outcomes for people across Scotland."

The Ask and Act model was the focus of a major conference held in Glasgow and convened by Advice Direct Scotland (Image: Robbie Thomson)

The conference highlighted the work of 15 pilot projects funded by the Scottish Government and delivered across 16 council areas, including Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Fife and Orkney.

These projects involve collaboration between councils, health boards, Police Scotland and the Scottish Prison Service.

They aim to embed homelessness prevention in day-to-day services and ensure that people receive help at the earliest opportunity.

The pilots are supported by a £4 million Scottish Government fund and have recently been extended with an additional £945,000 to continue until April.

They focus on identifying risk factors such as relationship breakdown, discharge from hospital or prison, and financial difficulties.

A core part of the approach is ensuring that public bodies consistently ask about housing circumstances and take early action when a risk of homelessness is identified.

Andrew Bartlett, chief executive of Advice Direct Scotland (Image: Advice Direct Scotland)

Andrew Bartlett, chief executive of Advice Direct Scotland, said: "We’re delighted to have gathered so many people at our conference to highlight the transformational work of the Ask and Act pilot projects, which we have been proud to facilitate.

"These initiatives show how preventative action on homelessness can help make a real difference, ensuring that people across the country have a place to call home.

"They also provide an excellent example of how the third sector can drive public service reform towards positive change.

Our conference provides a space to share learning, strengthen partnerships, and explore how we can work together to turn the vision of prevention into reality.

"By shifting the focus from responding to crisis towards identifying risk early and taking action sooner, we have an opportunity to improve outcomes for many vulnerable individuals and families.

"Asking the right question at the right time can change lives."