Details

‘Ask and Act’ are new duties proposed in the Housing (Scotland) Bill that requires public bodies to ask about a person’s housing situation early—and take action to prevent homelessness before it happens.

The Scottish Government’s Homelessness Prevention Pilot Fund (up to £4 million) supports a range of bodies including, local authorities, Health Boards, the police service, registered social landlords, prisons, along with 3rd Sector Organisations experienced in preventing homelessness. The pilots will develop, test, scale and cost the new prevention duties in real-world settings.

The fund is being administered by Advice Direct Scotland. It is designed to help public bodies, alongside third sector organisations experienced in preventing homelessness, prepare for and test the practical application of the new prevention duties with a particular focus on how ‘Ask and Act’ can be effectively embedded in day-to-day practice. It will also help relevant bodies and others to scope out the groups most at risk of homelessness, identify resource requirements, and best practice approaches.

Examples of the types of approaches the fund will support are:

• Early intervention and targeted prevention activity.
• Multi-agency approaches to support people navigating housing, health and social care services.
• Partnership models and processes that can be replicated and scaled.
• Collaborations involving shared resources, data and transitional or referred services.
• Initiatives that centre people at risk of homelessness and/or people with direct experience of homelessness in the design and delivery of the service.
• Initiatives that target groups at risk of homelessness and critical points
• in service pathways that have been identified as leading to homelessness.

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Geographical areas funded: Scotland

Fund type

Type of funding:

Grant

Type of cost:

Revenue

Fund award sizes

Annually awarded:

Premium information

Notes on award amounts:

Premium information

Who can apply

Consortia [groups], involving one or more named relevant body and involving public and third sector organisations. While consortia can be formed around a locality, sector, service or target groups, the fund is committed to seeking a minimum of one pilot per relevant body and sector.

When to apply

Currently closed. Opens 1 September, closes 17 October 2025 (decisions by 10 November).

Next deadline: 17 Oct 2025

How to apply

More info to follow.

Contact information

Exclusions

Premium information

Activites funded: Housing and shelter

Beneficiaries funded: Economically/socially disadvantaged Homeless or badly housed People in poverty

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Last reviewed about 19 hours ago