Long-term, place-based community-led work in Leith

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The context

Factors contributing to homelessness look similar across the UK: poverty, social isolation, antisocial behaviour, poor environment (including issues not being dealt with by landlords), limiting health or addiction issues, and, overwhelmingly, relationship breakdown. Strong personal networks and strong communities, which most people rely on before seeking ‘formal’ support from ‘services’ and/or after such support ends, can be protective factors against all of these.

Yet we often fail to consider the role of community in preventing homelessness. Recent research suggests social/community integration (the stage beyond ‘paid’ support), represent ‘the nut that’s not yet been cracked’’ in relation to Housing First. Place-based approaches like Inspiring Scotland’s Link Up, running since 2012 in nine areas amongst the 5-10% most deprived nationally, grasp the foundational role personal relationships and community can play in addressing complex social problems.

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The intervention

Link Up was devised for the ‘long-haul’, in recognition that short-term, ‘innovation’ funding is often ineffective in addressing longstanding inequality. Use of the SIMD to target localities is Link Up’s only ‘top-down’ aspect. Its projects don’t ‘provide a service’ and have no set agenda. But they all seek to enable individual and local change, using an asset-based community development approach. This means teasing out what’s strong in a locality, not what’s wrong. Link Up workers act as catalysts, harnessing people’s interests and helping building trust and connection. Each project is based within a local ‘host’ organisation.

In Leith, Edinburgh, homelessness charity Bethany Christian Trust hosts ‘Inspiring Leith’ and two Link Up workers. Anyone in the community can join. People can be referred (often by community link workers, or other statutory/non-statutory local services), but ‘word of mouth’ works best. The focus is on inclusion and ability to work with the complexity of people’s lives. Workers don’t do assessments or hold caseloads. They tailor their approach, for example, meet someone one-to-one for coffee if they’re anxious about coming to a group. They have flexibility to offer more direct help if someone is facing practical challenges, such as benefits, housing or court issues, or needs emotional support. 

Link Up workers support people to build friendships, share skills, take forward purposeful activities and have fun. Inspiring Leith’s groups (all of which came from, and are run by, local people) include peer recovery, upcycling, books, Zumba and a monthly, dry, open mic event. They support two community gardens, and are supporting a new residents’ group in multi-storey block, Cables Wynd House, to advocate for housing rights and engage constructively with the Council, as the principal landlord.

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The outcome

In 2020-21, 449 people engaged with Inspiring Leith. Over 50 (many impacted by trauma, addiction, poor health or isolation) engaged weekly. In Cables Wynd House, the residents’ group hosted a councillor walk-about, triggering action from the Council, and a longer-term improvement plan. A 2020 survey found most Link Up participants knew no one locally they could rely on for help, lacked confidence around others and felt unable to influence what happened locally, before engaging. All indicators reversed - some significantly - after getting involved. 70% said they now had more friends; 62% were more able to cope with life.

An early analysis found for every £1 invested, Link Up delivered economic benefits between £2.14 and £3.53. This doesn’t directly evidence homelessness prevention. But projects which show they bolster social capital, inclusion, self-efficacy, resilience and active citizenship in areas of higher homelessness risk clearly play an upstream role in reducing this risk, by enhancing fundamental, human, protective factors.

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Key insights

• projects which offer flexibility of access and relational engagement suit people who can’t engage with traditional models of ‘help’; they feel natural and normal, rather than stigmatising, or targeted at deficiencies
• supportive relationships, confidence and self-esteem – between individuals and across a locality – play a primary role in addressing the inequalities which concern every public service (including housing)
• all homelessness starts (and ends) in a community, so place-based work is a crucial element of prevention

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Find out more…

Marie-Amelie Viatte, Link Up Performance Advisor, Inspiring Scotland
marie-amelie@inspiringscotland.org.uk