Shelter Scotland have created a consultation and peer-led model called Time for Change, that includes the voices of people experiencing homelessness and housing problems in shaping and designing solutions to local problems. Time for Change Edinburgh began in April 2019 and since then we have:

• Held local consultations on local problems and solutions, through the voices of those affected by homelessness and housing problems;
• Held a Consultation Event;
• Involvement from eight Time for Change peers – local people experiencing homelessness or housing problems who have a passion to make change;
• Designed and delivered a local Sleep Walk march, which Edinburgh Tenants Federation.

The Time for Change peers have an incredible passion to make real change and have helped buddy people to the Shelter Scotland hub to meet advisors and met people in communities who they have signposted to available help.

Lisa, Time for Change peer, believes it is time “to change opinions of homelessness”. She reflects on her experiences of homelessness, and how people need to understand how it affects people individually, what they experience in temporary accommodation, and the consequences on families e.g. prison, families being split, etc.

Lyndsey, Hub Support Volunteer and Time for Change peer explains her involvement, “I have been involved for some time, I have participated in the questionnaires [consultation] at various places like the prison, Salvation Army hostels. It was very interesting hearing other people’s stories”. Lyndsey also explains what the experience has been like for the peers involved from her perspective, “All the peers have got different things from Time for Change, but we all want the same thing, to make a change to homelessness”.

Time for Change peers want to see more social housing, better social housing, and housing available to local people to help prevent homelessness in Edinburgh and communities. We would love to hear from more people who live in social housing in Edinburgh, so if you would like to make your voice heard – get in touch.

The Sleep Walk for Shelter

Nicola Hazelton, Edinburgh Hub Manager, Shelter Scotland

We just wanted to let you know that ETF is still operating, to the best of our ability, during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

ETF has taken the decision to close its office in Norton Park, effective from 2 p.m. Friday 20^th March 2020, to protect staff members and service users.

Whilst the office base is closed staff will be working from home but can still be contacted in the usual ways – by email to either info@edinburghtenants.org.uk or by phoning 0131 475 2509 and they will do their best to assist you.

We look forward to seeing you at a future event once this crisis has past.

Final ETF feedback on Housing to 2040-February 2020

Last Thursday (20^th February) 2020, Edinburgh Tenants Federation (ETF) representatives took a deputation to a full City of Edinburgh Council (CEC) meeting asking for a rent freeze for one year.  Federation members and CEC tenants expressed concern about CEC’s proposed 2% rent increase and 4.79% council tax increase and the implications of this including:

• CEC’s rents simply are not affordable as tenants living in Edinburgh pay the highest rents in Scotland;
• CEC is building houses which tenants can’t afford to live in as the rents are too high;
• Many tenants are on an income, but can’t afford to pay their rent;
• Tenants are not clear about what the 2% rent increase is being spent on;
• The increased childcare costs mean that some children’s diets are suffering as a result.

Despite the Federation’s campaign for a rent freeze, Councillors agreed to increase CEC tenants’ rents by 2% and Council tax by 4.79%.

ETF’s Convenor Betty Stevenson commented, “Naturally I’m disappointed that the rents and council tax will be increasing this year.  However it was very important that we expressed the views of tenants, many of whom will be affected by these increases.  Nevertheless we have achieved a great deal of positive publicity through this campaign and we will look to build on this moving forward.”

ETF would like to say thank you to everyone who was involved in the planning for and for coming up with the campaign slogan “No Rent Increase – Tenants’ Can’t Afford It”.  ETF representatives will continue to work with CEC officials to look at ways to improve next year’s Budget Consultation.

ETF representatives standing outside the City Chambers campaigning for a rent freeze

E-Newsletter January 2020

Federation Matters-January 2020