A house without furniture is not a home. Report from Shelter Scotland and the CRNS

Download the full report (129.93 KB)

Introduction

Having a satisfactory range of furniture and furnishings is as essential for homeless people who are being rehoused as it is for those fortunate enough not to experience such a trauma of homelessness. Without this, it is much more likely that the tenancy will fail and that the cycle of homelessness will be repeated; a considerable cost to both the person concerned and to local authorities who have the statutory duty to rehouse homeless persons.

Providing help with furniture and furnishings is a very basic form of homelessness prevention for impoverished households moving into unfurnished flats. And it can be cost effective too as indicated by the evidence from case studies undertaken by CRISIS and the Scottish Council for Single Homelessness (SCSH) which suggests that a straightforward case of homelessness can cost some £15,000 to the public purse. The case study graphically illustrates the problems that can arise where this help is not provided.