Dundee City Council and its partners have transformed their homeless services to tackle the challenge of the coronavirus crisis and maintain support for some of the most vulnerable people in the city.
With offices closed and social distancing in place, the way the council is handling its homeless applications has been adapted to include telephone interviews, while an electronic application process is also in place. Teleconferencing between the council, voluntary and third sector partners allows information to be shared quickly, including details about those who are rough sleeping or involved in street begging. More temporary accommodation has been created to meet rising demand as the pandemic continues.
Bryan Smith, operations manager at the council’s partner, Transform Community Development, said: “The pandemic has really brought into sharp focus the partnership working that supports individuals facing the challenges of homelessness. The multi-agency response has been fantastic with a superb can-do attitude from all sectors. We have worked innovatively and flexibility, to make this difficult period slightly easier for those with complex needs”
The city-wide effort includes a number of hostel and temporary accommodation providers who are supporting people with food, financial help, health enquiries and benefit assistance.
Organisations involved include Transform, Action For Children, Hillcrest Futures, Dundee Survival Group, the Salvation Army and Dundee Women’s Aid, while third sector outreach work for those rough sleeping or begging is being provided by Positive Steps, Eagles Wings, Steeple Parish Nurses and the Health and Homeless Outreach Team.
The Housing Service within Dundee City Council has also successfully established a virtual team including partners from Criminal Justice, Scottish Prison Service, Department of Work and Pensions, third sector, DHSCP (ISMS and Health) and Police Scotland in order that all the issues around prisoner release are fully considered and the programme delivered successfully. While this was established in response to COVID-19 and its impact on service users, this partnership working has allowed for a planned, person centred support service to be implemented for those engaging with the service.
Other partners involved in the multi-agency response include Dundee Health and Social Care Partnership, Tayside Council on Alcohol, Police Scotland, Xplore Dundee and WRASAC.
The council has funded a support worker for Dundee Women’s Aid through its Rapid Rehousing Transition Plan and further details of the achievements within the first year of the Rapid Rehousing Transition Plan will be highlighted in the return due to be submitted to Scottish Government by 30 June 2020.