Ending homelessness in Scotland means doing something different

Rhuaraidh Fleming, Senior Policy Officer

23.02.2025

“A new direction for Scotland” was the slogan for Scottish Labour’s annual conference in Glasgow. A new direction to tackle – and end – homelessness in Scotland is what we want to see, and it is a vision we want to see shared by all political parties contesting the 2026 Scottish Parliament elections.  

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer recently said that he wants to “build baby, build”, in relation to new nuclear power stations. That phrase was not used in Glasgow; however Scottish Labour has made it increasingly clear that they want to significantly increase the construction of new social homes throughout the country.  

Crisis fully supports this policy. The housing and homelessness emergency cannot be resolved without the construction of more social homes, and it is imperative that output in this area grows considerably.  

We will continue to make this call, but that, alone, is not enough. Crisis, and multiple other organisations in this sector, have consistently said the same – that greater emphasis must be placed on homelessness prevention. It is on this issue that we want to work closely with all parties aspiring to form the next Scottish Government.    

Hope  

During a fringe event discussing child poverty, one panellist with lived experience of poverty and homelessness closed the session articulating what people in their situation most need. 

“We need hope”.   

Hope, in relation to homelessness, is more than the promise of new housing being built. Hope is more than a commitment to continue with existing policies. Hope is something new. Hope is doing something different.   

This is what Crisis will ask of all parties standing in the 2026 Scottish Parliament election.   

The new homelessness prevention duties included in the Housing (Scotland) Bill currently passing through Parliament provide an opportunity to do something new. To create a new approach to not just manage homelessness, or mitigate crises, but to prevent more pain and indignity from happening in the first place. We want to see political parties match our ambition but also provide the vision for “what next”, as we seek new solutions for a sadly persistent, intractable problem.   

Mind the (implementation) gap 

Crisis has engaged constructively with all political parties as the Housing (Scotland) Bill has progressed through parliament and we will continue to do so. Should the Bill pass then within a few short years we hope all its provisions will be enacted nationwide and a greater emphasis will be placed on preventing, and not managing, homelessness in Scotland.  

The opportunities this legislation provides cannot be left untapped. The Bill, if passed, must be implemented properly and fully by the current, and next, government. We cannot see an implementation gap with this Bill. It is on that basis – of how to implement this groundbreaking legislation successfully and effectively – that we will seek to work with Scottish Labour on how they will provide “a new direction for Scotland” and with any party intent on in addressing, and seeking to end, homelessness in Scotland.