We are delighted to launch Street Support Edinburgh, a website (and App) that brings together people and organisations locally to tackle homelessness in Edinburgh. More than 30 organisations in Edinburgh have teamed up to launch Street Support Edinburgh this January.

Street Support Edinburgh website is a central place online to find out about homelessness, see what support is available, and see what you can do to help. As the Covid pandemic impacts on our lives in many unexpected ways, it is vital that we are able to bring services together in one place so that information is readily available for people who are experiencing, or at risk, of homelessness. As the financial pressure of the pandemic starts to bite, this is arguably more crucial now than ever before!

We are excited to be able to bring the experience and expertise of Street Support Network to Scotland for the first time through Street Support Edinburgh. Street Support Network has been developed in collaboration with homelessness organisations and people experiencing homelessness and is being used successfully in 22 towns and cities in the UK.

‘Street Support Edinburgh is a great opportunity for us as a University to build on our existing community networks and to work together to help to reduce homelessness in our city.’ Fiona Cuthill, Director for Centre for Homelessness and Inclusion Health, University of Edinburgh.

There has been huge enthusiasm for Street Support Edinburgh from charities and homelessness organisations across the city. We have also been working very closely with Police Scotland and Edinburgh City Council, who are in full support.

 ‘As chair of the Edinburgh Inclusive Board I welcome this innovative way of providing information which will help people connect. Knowing how and where to get help and support is a crucial component of feeling included. I realise there are access issues for some people and we must search for solutions to help people connect.’  – Colin Beck, Edinburgh Health and Social Care partnership – Edinburgh City Council.

Initial funding to develop and launch Street Support Edinburgh has been provided by the University of Edinburgh through the Centre for Homelessness and Inclusion Health, the University’s ESRC Impact Acceleration Award (grant reference ES/T50189X/1), and Streetwork, Simon Community Scotland.

Lorraine McGrath, CEO Simon Community Scotland, says:

‘A year of Covid has been hugely challenging, it has also forced all of us to rethink how we deliver our services and reach the most vulnerable people on our streets, with some incredible outcomes. Lockdown created the opportunity for organisations in Edinburgh to come together and almost eradicate rough sleeping in the city. It has shown us what we can achieve by collaborating, being creative and keeping people at the heart of what we do. Street Support Edinburgh is a natural progression for us in connecting the talent, expertise and commitment of people and organisations across the City in preventing homelessness and the need for anyone to ever have to sleep on our streets. We are delighted to be working with Edinburgh University and Street Support to build these connections in Edinburgh.’

If you are an organisation in Edinburgh and would like to partner with us in Street Support Edinburgh, we would love to hear from you. You can add your details to the website by contacting Kieran Turner Email:kieran.turner@ed.ac.uk

For any other information, contact:

Dr Fiona Cuthill

Email:fiona.cuthill@ed.ac.uk