Everyone Home Collective and Aberdeen Foyer Warn of Rough Sleeping Death Risk in Scotland this Winter, Highlight Nightstop as Key Solution in Aberdeen
A collective of organisations that support people affected by homelessness has issued a stark warning: without urgent intervention, people in Scotland forced to sleep rough this winter face life-threatening risks due to a severe shortage of accommodation and rising homelessness. The Everyone Home collective has written to Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP, and COSLA Community Wellbeing Spokesperson, Councillor Maureen Chalmers, voicing “serious concern” that the housing emergency could cost lives in the coming months.
As it stands, Scotland lacks adequate shelter for those in need. The collective, comprised of nearly 40 third sector and academic organisations focused on housing and homelessness, is urging for coordinated action amid an accelerating crisis exacerbated by cost-of-living pressures, austerity, and inadequate social security support. For the first time, the group has also petitioned the Scottish Human Rights Commission to investigate the potential breach of government obligations to protect the right to life, emphasising that Scottish and local authorities have duties under the Human Rights Act 1998 to take measures to protect lives.
In a bid to prevent homelessness and rough sleeping, the collective has further called on UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper MP to ensure that the Home Office provides resources so that people granted Leave to Remain can transition into settled homes without delay.
Nightstop at Aberdeen Foyer: Part of a Local Solution to Support Vulnerable Young People
Aberdeen Foyer, a local member of the collective, is responding to the crisis through the Nightstop programme, which provides young people aged 16-25 with a safe, temporary home with a vetted Host in the Aberdeen area. As rough sleeping and homelessness rise, especially among young people facing family breakdown and housing insecurity, Nightstop offers unique early intervention by giving young people a secure place to stay while they navigate their next steps.
“Most of our young people come to us due to challenges at home,” says Laura Mingo, Aberdeen Foyer’s Nightstop Coordinator. “Nightstop offers them the respite they need to regroup. We support young people with wraparound services, including conflict resolution and guidance, which are often transformative during a time of crisis.”
Nightstop Aberdeen is part of a UK-wide network, providing invaluable early intervention and wraparound support and relies on the kindness of individuals, opening their homes and becoming Hosts. Hosts are trained and supported to welcome young people into their homes for short stays, often just a few nights, to provide stability at a crucial moment.
A Nightstop Host, shared about their experience: "Giving a young person time, care, and attention during a pivotal moment in their life can set them on the right path. I’m ready and excited to get started after going through the thorough training process, and I look forward to being part of their journey."
Young people facing homelessness in Aberdeen can contact Nightstop at 01224 562863. Those interested in becoming a Nightstop Host can help change a young person’s life by providing temporary refuge and stability for a young person in a time of need.
Rising Numbers and a Call to Action
The urgency is underscored by recent statistics showing a concerning rise in rough sleeping across Scotland. The latest Scottish Government statistics reveal a jump from 2,425 to 2,931 people who slept rough before making a homelessness application in the last year. Rough sleeping is now impacting more regions, including non-urban areas historically less affected.
As Scotland's annual two-day homelessness conference opens at Perth Concert Hall, the Everyone Home collective and Aberdeen Foyer are calling for swift, collaborative action to address the immediate crisis and strengthen long-term prevention.
Maggie Brunjes, Chief Executive, Homeless Network Scotland said:
“As we move into the coldest part of the year, we cannot allow an already bad situation to descend into tragedy. We need local and national government teams to work together quickly and effectively to protect lives by ensuring everyone has a safe place to stay. The bar has been set far too low for those at the sharpest end of homelessness this year and we cannot accept this. We need swift action to allocate and target resources to provide people with – at a minimum – somewhere safe to stay while they wait for a settled home.”
If you are a young person looking for a safe place to stay or you are interested in becoming a Host, please contact:
Laura Mingo, Nightstop Co-ordinator
Phone: 01224 562863
Email: nightstop@aberdeenfoyer.com
Notes:
1. Everyone Home is a collaboration of third sector and academic organisations focused on housing and homelessness in Scotland. More information: https://homelessnetwork.scot/everyone-home/
2. Nightstop Information: Nightstop North East is run by Aberdeen Foyer and provides short-term housing within Hosts’ homes for young people aged 16-25, offering support in times of crisis to provide respite and a safe place to stay in Aberdeen.