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10 years of Housing First shows why it works
Catherine Wilkie has now been working on the Housing First approach to ending homelessness for more than a decade. She reflects on how to make it work best
I’ve worked in housing for 37 years, and homelessness is a personal passion of mine. I’ve been involved with Housing First for over a decade.
In that time, Housing First has turned everything we used to believe on its head.
“People were apprehensive about giving a home to people with difficult backgrounds who hadn’t been assessed as ‘tenancy ready’ and the impact this would have on neighbours”
This pioneering but challenging project is now a major strand in Scotland’s homelessness policy.
The Housing First approach came from America and aimed to end repeat and chronic homelessness. The big idea was that with support, most people would sustain a tenancy, address their other needs over time and, importantly, integrate into communities.
But it wasn’t an easy start. I remember the initial meetings, where Ian Irvine from Turning Point Scotland was trying to persuade housing associations to provide homes to get the pilot off the ground.
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Helping homeless people, often with chronic housing, health and social care needs, into a home despite numerous previous failures, wasn’t universally welcomed. People were apprehensive about giving a home to people with difficult backgrounds who hadn’t been assessed as ‘tenancy ready’ and the impact this would have on neighbours.
I worked for Glasgow Housing Association (GHA) at the time and I remember thinking this might actually work.
I scoped a paper, got a buy-in from GHA chief executive Martin Armstrong and the GHA board. Along with Queens Cross Housing Association and NG homes, we gave the first tenancies to what is now known as the Turning Point Housing First project – and the rest is history.
“It’s the success stories that stick in my mind. The customer who cried when he received a Christmas card from us – the first Christmas card he’d received since living at home as a child”
Support is the vital component for those starting their Housing First journey, as well as the perseverance of the support provider and frontline housing officers.
Close working between housing officers and support workers is crucial to achieving tenancy sustainment. They work together to deal with any issues which may arise. It could be delays to benefits, help with budgeting or managing money, anti-social behaviour, help to get birth certificates for identification, help with housing applications and more.
Tenants know their support worker and housing officer are both there to support them.
Wheatley is now a key partner in Housing First. In fact, we have just handed over our 200th home to the partnership.
Wheatley has supplied almost half of all Housing First tenancies across Scotland, despite operating in just two of the five pathfinder areas. In Glasgow, Wheatley has provided 88% of all Housing First tenancies; and 58% of tenancies in Edinburgh. That in itself is a remarkable achievement.
But, at Wheatley, we don’t just give a house – we make a home. Wheatley provides vital wrap-around support for Housing First customers, such as emergency food parcels through the EatWell service, fuel, welfare benefits advice and much more.
Relationships are crucial. From high-level partnerships between the Scottish government, Homelessness Network Scotland, housing associations and local authorities, to the housing officers, support workers and health and social care staff working together on the frontline and helping customers every day.
These relationships have helped us develop a streamlined process that works – a model that is flexible and can change and grow.
It’s the success stories that stick in my mind.
The customer who’d been living in a hut on a golf course for 10 years got a Wheatley home and reconnected with his family.
The prisoner who transitioned from prison to a tenancy without the need to go into temporary accommodation and the homelessness system.
The customer who cried when he received a Christmas card from us – the first Christmas card he’d received since living at home as a child.
Tenancy support and care is vital, but just as important in Housing First is the principle that complex people require acceptance, dignity and respect, too.
With great relationships come great trust and accountability and huge possibilities for moving forward.
We’re aiming high. We want to take Housing First in Scotland to the next level. Everything is possible.
Catherine Wilkie, homelessness and customer support lead, Wheatley Group
