Launched in March 2021, the Ending Destitution Together (EDT) strategy was designed to prevent and mitigate destitution, regardless of someone’s immigration status. The first strategy of its kind in the UK, it sought to clearly set out the impact of the NRPF condition on people and the risks that arise from NRPF, which can force people into destitution. 

As part of the initial EDT strategy, the government pledged to contribute to the ambition of ending homelessness and specifically support actions relating to people with NRPF and destitute asylum seekers, as set out in the Ending Homelessness Together action plan.

To carry this out, delivery partners including the Scottish Government, COSLA and Fair Way Scotland have been working with specialist organisations, Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) and local authorities to improve access to housing for people subject to NRPF.

For the next year, actions include supporting local approaches to winter and severe weather accommodation provision, ensuring inclusion and consideration of people with NRPF.

The delivery period 2027-2029 will see the government:

• Continue to support the third sector to develop and deliver accommodation models for households ineligible for local authority accommodation.
• Explore opportunities to improve collection of NRPF data through national homelessness reporting.
• Ensure appropriate reference to NRPF specific issues is included when the Code of Guidance on Homelessness is updated.

Commenting on the new delivery plan, Homeless Network Scotland’s chief executive Maggie Brünjes said: “We welcome this plan and the Scottish Government’s renewed commitment to ending destitution caused by the Home Office’s harmful No Recourse to Public Funds policy. No one in Scotland should be facing homelessness or destitution due to their immigration status.

“Homeless Network Scotland has previously urged the Scottish Government to consider the recent findings of legal experts who say there are ways Ministers can use devolved powers to take bolder, more decisive action to help people with No Recourse to Public Funds. So it encouraging to see this plan commit to doing just that.

“With the strategy acknowledging the very real difference made by the Fair Way Scotland programme, we urge Ministers to commit to long term, sustainable funding for this initiative to give organisations and the people they support the certainty and stability they need.

“This strategy is an important tool for tackling destitution in Scotland. But ultimately the power to end the harm caused by the hostile environment lies with Westminster. The Home Office must finally bring an end to these damaging policies that cause so much hardship, which leave the Scottish Government and public authorities to pick up the pieces, and which stand in stark contrast to the UK Government’s recent commitments around ending rough sleeping.”