Making Connections at Scotland 's Homelessness Conference

Combating homelessness effectively means making connections across traditional professional boundaries. That is the message two hundred delegates will hear at a major national homelessness conference held by the Scottish Council for Single Homeless (SCSH) in Edinburgh on Thursday and Friday this week.

Delegates from a range of professions – health, housing, police, armed services, youth projects and drugs and alcohol projects – will work through a crowded programme to try to make a real difference for homeless people.

Social Justice Minister Jackie Baillie will kick off the Conference with a keynote address. Other Conference highlights include:

• A look at the implications of Choice Based Lettings systems for homeless people with Hal Pawson, Research Fellow at Heriot Watt University
• Deputy Chief Constable of Lothian and Borders Police, Tom Wood, giving a Police perspective on homelessness
• A debate with MSPs from the main political parties on the topic - "The Rough Sleepers Initiative - money well spent ?
• Sue Irving, the Scottish Executives recently appointed Health and Homelessness Co-ordinator will discuss "The health and homelessness sectors working in partnership"