Local Housing Strategy

May update 

This month the Housing Strategy team continued in their engagement efforts, asking community groups, colleagues and the general public their attitudes towards housing within East Lothian.

Our colleagues at Action for Children, worked with us to host a workshop at New Horizons in Haddington, which offers temporary accommodation and support for homeless young people. We spoke to current and previous residents who shared their experiences of being young and homeless in East Lothian. We also explored what changes they’d like to see in housing services in East Lothian, reflecting on what helped them most.

We met with women accessing Women’s Aid East and Mid Lothian (WAEML), a charitable organisation who provide support and refuge accommodation for women subjected to domestic abuse. They gave us their unique perspective on housing issues within East Lothian and what should be done to help victims/survivors of domestic abuse regain their safety.

We joined Stepping Out’s Musselburgh group, a charity organising activities and offering support to adults with mental health issues, in their beautiful healing garden. We had conversations with group members and staff around challenges they have faced and their priorities for housing and housing services. We are looking forward to having a similar event with Stepping Out’s North Berwick group.

Colleagues from East Lothian Council’s Musselburgh and Prestonpans Community Housing Team joined us for a virtual workshop. With a wealth of experience in their roles, including housing officers, tenancy support officers and housing assistants, they spoke of the current housing services provided by East Lothian Council and what could be done in the future. We will continue to have these conversations with Community Housing colleagues from other areas of the county.

East Lothian’s public were asked their opinions on rural housing through a survey shared widely across social media- reaching over 200 respondents. The survey, available on our consultation page, will stay open until 6 June. A new survey on a different housing topic will be created and made available over the next month. You can find the survey on our Consultation Hub.

The search continues for private rented sector landlords and tenants within East Lothian to participate in our research, delivered by Arneil Johnston. If you are interested in sharing your experiences of the private rented sector contact us at: lhs@eastlothian.gov.uk.