Minister for Housing and Transport, Keith Brown MSP, will give a keynote address at Scottish Churches Housing Action's seminar on 30 September 2011. The seminar is to assess progress towards the Scottish Government's target of an entitlement to a home for almost all homeless people by 2012.
Scottish Churches Housing Action has linked up with the Church and Society Council of the Church of Scotland to put on this event. Entitled Homelessness: achieving the 2012 pledge?, it will take place at the City Chambers, Edinburgh from 10am-3.30pm on Friday 30 September. It is free, and open to housing and support staff, homeless people, councillors, church members, volunteers in homelessness projects, and campaigners.
Besides the Minister, speakers will include Mary Taylor, Chief Executive of Scottish Federation of Housing Associations, and Raymond Young, long-standing supporter of Scottish Churches Housing Action and housing activist. Participants will be encouraged to speak from their own experience of working towards the target, and to say what more needs to be done to tackle homelessness effectively.
Churches Housing’s Chief Executive Alastair Cameron says, "We are delighted that the Minister has accepted our invitation to speak. We have been interviewing key organisations in the lead-up to the event, and it is clear that progress is patchy. We know the Scottish Government is consistent in its intention to meet this long-standing commitment. Our seminar will focus on the pressures facing homeless people and the organisations that help them, and to look beyond the target date."
Places at the seminar are free, but should be booked in advance by contacting the Church & Society Council:
e-mail: amullen@cofscotland.org.uk
tel: 0131 225 5722
Download the seminar flier.
Note on the homelessness target 2012
The Scottish Government’s target on homelessness is: “By 2012 every unintentionally homeless person will be entitled to settled accommodation”.
