Plans underway to provide homeless accommodation in Edinburgh

Plans have been put in place to protect people facing homelessness during the coronavirus outbreak in Edinburgh, thanks to the combined efforts of the local authority, public health, private and third sector workers.As part of urgent measures to support those most at risk in the capital, the City of Edinburgh Council has set up a dedicated team to co-ordinate support and take steps to increase the number of safe places for homeless people to stay, for the purposes of self-isolation.Featuring officers from homelessness, health and social care and procurement services, the new Additional Accommodation Needs Team will be responsible for co-ordinating crucial activity to step up the self-contained temporary accommodation the council has available for those without a home. This team is being supported by daily advice from colleagues within Public Health Scotland, which is greatly assisting with day-to-day decision making.The continued delivery of care packages including food, alongside the use of bed spaces in vacant hotels, self-contained flats and University halls of residence, are among the measures being actively and urgently explored. This is alongside ongoing support for rough sleepers who are considered to be very vulnerable to the virus.The team will build on work which has already been underway in Edinburgh to move families in shared temporary accommodation like B&Bs into self-contained places to live, and to keep Edinburgh’s homeless shelters and street-based outreach services open for as long as possible.