Annual Impact Report 2024

SEHP kickstarter projects

Our first third-sector kickstarter project was with Homes For Good (HFG). The project, which commenced in 2021, focused on reducing housing need through bringing empty homes back to use as social or affordable housing.

The project created a number of hands-on options for empty homes owners to take action and bring homes back to life, including assistance to sell, purchase by HfG, and a pilot Rent Ready Programme, where HfG recoups the costs of getting homes ready to be let through future rental income.

The two year project ended in 2023 but HfG has committed to mainstreaming this role and focus into core activities within the organisation. The success of the project was also highlighted by nominations in this year’s SEHP awards for two of the properties it brought back into use. Barry Sweeney, who led on the project in 2023, was also nominated for the Special Recognition Award.

In 2022 and 2023 three further third sector Kickstarter projects were established in Scottish Borders, the Western Isles and Argyll and Bute. All three of the projects have involved close working with empty homes officers and colleagues in other teams and departments.

In Scottish Borders, South of Scotland Community Housing (SOSCH) have worked with community organisations and Scottish Borders Council to develop and deliver projects that will address the specific housing needs of individual communities.

In the Western Isles, Tighean Innse Gall (TIG) have worked closely with Comhairle nan Eilean Siar’s (Western Isles Council) EHO to identify suitable properties for purchasing and refurbishing in the Outer Hebrides to help to revitalise rural communities across the island chain.

In Argyll and Bute, SEHP and Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership have provided joint funding for an EHO with a specific remit to work to bring empty homes back into use to help to tackle the shortage of affordable housing for health and social care workers across the region.

We announced our newest third sector Kickstarter project at our annual conference in Glasgow this year. Working with The Community Impact Initiative C.I.C. (The Cii), the project will be the forerunner to a multi-year program that will regenerate empty homes in Dundee to provide housing for people in need, and support over 180 local people to gain the skills and qualifications needed to move towards employment.