Getting Settled for Ask And Act

Prospect worked with other ARCHIE partners to deliver a pilot project focussed on helping new tenants settle into their homes. The ARCHIE partnership’s recent project Getting Settled was included in a recent Scottish Government Learning Report for preventing homelessness. It was one of seven pilot projects funded via Scottish Government’s Upstream Homelessness Prevention Fund which tested practical approaches to homelessness prevention. Getting Settled funded carpets, bedding, curtains and appliances, as well as mitigating some arrears. It empowered RSL staff to quickly and easily turn an empty property into a home, enabling new tenants to feel more settled, but also building strong positive relationships from the start of the tenancy.

Over the 10 months of the funding the pilot partnerships supported 943 people in Scotland, with 662 households (70%) helped to prevent homelessness. Using a flexible cash-first approach alongside relational tenancy sustainment, partners embedded new roles, revised processes and strengthened collaboration. Scottish Government have now released a report detailing project activity but also reflecting on the learning generated that could help develop the new Ask and Act requirements, and help reduce homelessness in the future. The report is available online.

ARCHIE is a partnership of independent Housing Associations and Housing Co‑operatives in Edinburgh.