Programme and Presentations from the
National Homelessness Conference

Thursday 8th & Friday 9th November 2007

As always, the SCSH National Homelessness Conference proved to be the ideal forum for all those working to tackle homelessness in Scotland to come together to share information and ideas, discuss issues and challenges and learn about innovative and original practice.

The conference comprised a two day programme of workshops and plenaries - led by researchers, practitioners, SCSH staff and colleagues from the voluntary and statutory sectors. The presentations from the two days can be downloaded below.

Thursday 8th November

Plenary Speakers

• Towards 2012
  Robert Aldridge, Director, SCSH
• Homelessness and Stock Transfer –findings from SCSH Research.
  Mary Taylor, Lecturer, Dept of Applied Social Science, University of Stirling
• Prevention of Homelessness –the Approach in Wales
  Chris Price, National Homelessness Network Co-ordinator for Wales
• Ministerial Address
  Nicola Sturgeon MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing

Workshops

1. Multi Agency Triggers to Prevent Homelessness Innovation Project Focus - Tracy Lindsay, Homelessness Policy Officer, East Dunbartonshire Council
   
2. a. Service User Involvement: engaging young people in the creation and delivery of housing services (AM only) - Wendy Devall, Information and Development Officer, SCSH Youth Unit
   b.Rewards for Learning: nurturing success in young people with housing issues (PM only) – Wendy Devall, Information and Development Officer, SCSH Youth Unit
3. Private Rented Sector Registration – Louise Collatin, Section Head and Lisa Mullen, Landlord Registration Officer, Private Sector Housing Team, East Ayrshire Council
4. Domestic Abuse: sanctuary schemes–do they work? – Lydia Okroj and Jo Ozga, Housing Development Workers, Scottish Women’s Aid
5. The Contract Culture–how do services have to change? – Steve Ebbitt, Chief Executive, Glasgow Simon Community
6. Using the Social Networks Toolkit – Lesley Stenhouse, Forum Co-ordinator, Scottish Social Networks
7. Starting Tenancies Right: Ideas for a Day One Service – Iain MacPhail, Voluntary Sector Liaison Officer, City of Edinburgh Council and Pass the Baton - Bethany Christian Trust
8. 2009: Meeting the Challenge – Cathie Fancy and Kevin Anderson, Scottish Borders Council

Friday 9th November

Plenary Speakers

• Young People and their Parents – Attitudes to Homelessness and Running Away. Joan Smith Centre for Housing & Community Research Cities Institute, London Metropolitan University
• The launch of research into the support needs of children and young people who have to move home because of domestic abuse. Cheryl Sutherland Stewart, Information and Research Worker plus two young people, Scottish Women’s Aid
• Communities Scotland – Homelessness & the New Inspection Regime. Michael Cameron, Acting Head of Inspections, Communities Scotland
• The Private Rented Sector – The Approach in Ireland. Eoin O’Sullivan, School of Social Work and Social Policy, Trinity College Dublin

Workshops

1. New Welfare Reforms: how will they affect homeless people and employability? – Geraldine Wooley, Co-ordinator, Scottish Homelessness and Employability Network
2. Abolition of Priority Need: can it be done? (did not run)
3. New Approaches to Prevention: the Parents Guide for young people leaving home – Matt Elton, Head of Youth Unit, SCSH
4. How Housing Providers Can Employ Homeless People Innovation Project Focus - Gary Quinn, Youth Planning Development Worker and Bridget Curran, Principal Officer, Social Work Services, Glasgow Homelessness Partnership
5. “Every day it rains”–real world ways of managing money – Pam Orchard, Assistant Director, Edinburgh Cyrenians
6. Engaging Addiction & Homelessness services together – John Budd, General Practitioner, Edinburgh Homeless Practice
7. The Supply Challenge - James Jopling, Head of External Relations, Shelter Scotland
8. Measuring Outcomes: the distance travelled approach - Stephen Sandham, Head of Supporting People Team, The Scottish Government

For any further information on the conference please contact a member of the SCSH staff.