Dundee University project aims to tackle Scotland's Covid-19 homelessness

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A new project conducted by the University of Dundee aims to tackle the surge in Scottish youth homelessness caused by Covid-19. Dr Andrea Rodriguez, from the University’s School of Dentistry, said that improving access to support services, adopting participatory approaches, and integrating healthcare provision could significantly improve the quality of life of young people affected by homelessness. The number of young people living homeless is expected to rise in light of the pandemic due to an increase in domestic tensions and a lack of employment opportunities. However, an eight-month knowledge exchange project led by Dr Rodriguez has identified ways of improving how the next generation of dental, health and social care professionals interact with those without a permanent address. Funded by the Scottish Universities Insight Institute, the project recommends following an approach adopted in the metropolises of Rio de Janeiro and Fortaleza, where support agencies are becoming increasingly integrated, to keep young people experiencing homelessness engaged with services. 

Dr Rodriguez said: “One third of homelessness applications in Scotland come from young people aged 16 to 25 years old. COVID-19 is likely to see an increase in this, according to partners we have worked with. This could be due to an intensification of conflicts with family members or increased levels of domestic violence.

“For those young people living in supported accommodation, social isolation during lockdown may have increased anxiety levels or alcohol intake, while job opportunities have also become scarce, increasing chances of eviction for those in informal rental agreements.

“This is a complex social problem that we all need to address. Scotland has one of the best homelessness legislations in Europe and Brazil has an extraordinary methodology based in popular education to address these issues. Both countries have practitioners and organisations strongly committed to tackling homelessness and we both have a lot to learn from each other.