A DIGITAL service has been developed to add to the support available for people in Edinburgh who are homeless.
A website and an accompanying app – called Street Support Edinburgh – provides advice, support and resources for homeless and vulnerable people, for emergency services and for people in the wider community who want to help.
It has been developed by researchers and community partners, including leading Scottish homelessness charity Simon Community.
Street Support Edinburgh is part of a project by the University of Edinburgh’s Centre for Homeless Inclusion and Health (CHIH) and the Manchester-based Street Support Network. Information includes providers of meals, drop-in services, food banks and accommodation.
The digital hub also features advice on financial help, health services and training and job opportunities. Organisers say the resource provides a vital service to vulnerable people and the community by making accessible information available in one easy-to-use location.
Advice on Covid-19 and support available during the pandemic has also been added. Simon Community Scotland runs the Streetwork service in Edinburgh. Researchers at the university’s School of Informatics have assisted with technical aspects of the digital project.
Street Support Edinburgh features content from more than 30 organisations and has been backed by both Police Scotland and the City of Edinburgh Council.
Organisers say the platform is the first resource of its type in Scotland and that they hope to extend it to other areas.
Lorraine McGrath, chief executive, Simon Community Scotland, said: “A year of Covid-19 has been hugely challenging, but lockdown created the opportunity for organisations in Edinburgh to come together and almost eradicate rough sleeping in the city.
“It has shown us what we can achieve by collaborating, being creative and keeping people at the heart of what we do.”
The website can be accessed at streetsupport.net/edinburgh.
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