Help us tackle homelessness

Social work is a profession committed to empowering individuals, families, and communities. Many of the clients you work with and for may be at risk of - or currently experiencing - homelessness and destitution. The Scottish Government has asked Homelessness Charity Crisis to convene an expert group to identify legal duties on local authorities and other public bodies to prevent homelessness, set out in it and COSLA’s Ending Homelessness Together Action Plan.  The role that social work can and does play in preventing homelessness, and helping people stay in stable accommodation, is significant. The unique insight you as social work practitioners have into complex factors that impact on homelessness, such as trauma, mental health, domestic abuse and poverty, makes you an invaluable resource to support the work of the Prevention Review Group, who welcome and encourage your views and expertise to help tackle the problem. The group are keen to gather the views of social workers across all specialisms and have asked us to reach out to members to gauge levels of interest in supporting this work.

For those who are interested in finding out more about what you can do to help and to influence change, and more about what this work will involve, please contact Emily.galloway@basw.co.uk outlining your specialism and a bit about your experience of dealing with homelessness in practice.