New £4.5m charity fund launched to tackle homelessness

Projects aimed at tackling homelessness will be able to access grants from a new £4.5m fund launched by the Scottish Government.

The Third Sector Homelessness Fund will provide funding for charities that work to prevent rough sleeping and help organisations cooperate with councils to rehouse people.

Charities can apply for grants of up to £100,000 a year for projects that the government believes are aligned with its Ending Homelessness Together Action Plan.

Housing minister Kevin Stewart said: “Ending homelessness requires strong partnership and collaboration across government, local authorities, the third sector and the wider public sector.

“Based on the positive progress to change systems and approaches I have seen over the last year, alongside the determined effort that is obvious across the sector, I believe the foundations are in place to realise the vision of a Scotland where homelessness no longer exists.

“This new fund will support third-sector organisations as they adapt how their services are delivered in line with the Ending Homelessness Together Action Plan and in context with each local authority’s Rapid Rehousing Transition Plan.”

Grants will be managed by the Corra Foundation on behalf of the Scottish Government, with charities having until March 24 to apply.