International report recognises GLC prevention of homeless work in Glasgow

Govan Law Centre’s award winning prevention of Homelessness Partnership section 11 project is highlighted in a new international report published this week reporting on tenancy sustainment programmes.

The report by Chris Povey of the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust Of Australia, entitled ‘Investigating tenancy sustainment programs and approaches in relation to clients at risk of homelessness’, describes Chris’ Homeless Persons Legal Clinic based in Victoria. The report also considers and focuses on work being undertaken in Glasgow as well as in Edinburgh, the North of England, New York, Washington and Toronto.

In Glasgow the report highlights our approach to homelessness prevention which delivers prevention in a unique way.

The report considers how our project developed ground-breaking and innovative approaches to preventing homelessness in Glasgow, in particular, the dedicated ongoing coordinated approach is described in the report “as the lynchpin” to the success of our homelessness prevention work.

Alistair Sharp, senior project manager at GLC said: “For Govan Law Centre’s prevention of homelessness partnership s11 project to be considered in such a high profile international report is testimony to the hard work of GLC and all of the partners involved, and is fantastic recognition of our partnership working and model of early intervention to prevent homelessness and homelessness prevention in Glasgow”

The Prevention of Homelessness Partnership Project was set up in 2005 by Govan Law Centre, Govan Money Matters Advice Centre and the South West Community Health and Care Partnership (SW CHCP) to pilot s11 of the Homelessness etc., (Scotland) Act 2003.

The s11 Project was set up to achieve, and tasked with, halting repossession and evictions and preventing homelessness through the provision of high quality legal representation, money and benefits advice and access to specialised support services and specialised dedicated coordination of support services. It has prevented over 2000 people and their families from being made homeless. The project was awarded the Scottish Social Services Council Accolade for Partnership Working in Adult Care in 2010.

The full report is available here; and Govan Law Centre’s Prevention of Homelessness Partnership can be found at page 49 et seq.,.