Huge congratulations to our Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP)’s Housing First Service, which was one of three finalists in the Excellence in Adult Services Category, at the Scottish Social Services Awards, held on 9 November in Glasgow.

The Scottish Social Services Awards celebrate the work of Scottish social services and the individuals, teams and organisations making a positive difference to people’s lives. Our Housing First service demonstrates excellence in Adult Services because it puts the service user’s needs at the core; is based on their dignity, rights and choices and is flexible, collaborative and innovative.

Housing First is a rapid rehousing approach to tackling homelessness amongst people with complex needs, such as mental health or addiction issues. It turns conventional homelessness practice on its head, and the programme is transforming the lives of people experiencing homelessness in Glasgow. Secure tenancies and intensive support are provided to assist some of the city's most vulnerable people to rebuild their lives, sustain their tenancies and improve their physical and mental health.

Over 280 new secure tenancies have been achieved from Glasgow's housing associations for long-term homeless people who have a bespoke support package to help them manage and sustain their tenancy through the work of our HSCP Housing First Team, in partnership with the Housing First Consortium and our commissioned Salvation Army Housing First Service to provide 'in tenancy' support.

Eleanor Lee, HSCP, Housing First Service Lead said: “We work with service users considered as having multiple complex needs, due to experience of enduring life traumas often from childhood. Most are known to multiple services including homelessness, addiction, criminal justice and mental health.

“Using an outreach approach, we make sure that service users’ views and choices are heard and acted upon, achieving tenancies where people want to stay, avoiding where they can’t or don’t want to live. The programme is offering people a chance to start afresh by providing opportunities to want reconnection with family and children, participating in new activities and volunteering to improve their employment prospects and widen their social networks, improving their lives long-term.”

One of the men who used to live in a hostel said: “'Housing First has changed my life.”

Jim McBride, our HSCP’s Head of Adult Services (Homelessness) said: “Well done to all staff involved, the award recognises the innovative and collaborative approach of Housing First and acknowledges the achievements of the service users who have benefitted, exiting long-term homelessness into permanent tenancy.”

A short video was produced for each project who made it to the finals of the Scottish Social Services Awards.