Staff at a “lifeline” project helping addicts in Scotland’s drug death capital are being laid off because government funding is ending.
Housing First Pathfinder workers have been served redundancy notices – despite shocking figures released last week which show Scotland continues to lead Europe in record drug-related fatalities.
And a Tory MSP has called for an immediate U-turn on this “disastrous” decision.
The scheme had been championed by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon when she announced £6.5million funding in 2018, claiming it was “key” to helping people with “complex needs” rebuild their lives.
It gives rough sleepers – who often have severe addiction issues – a home and access to drug, alcohol and mental health care services.
But the Sunday Mail has learned that about 12 staff assigned to the project in Dundee are being made redundant as Scottish Government funding is ending in September.
It is understood about four existing council staff who already have other duties in the housing department have been told to take over the roles in an effort to “mainstream” the service.
Pathfinder schemes have also been operating in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Stirling. It is not known if jobs in these cities are also being shed.
Dundee has been dubbed “Scotland’s drug death capital” since figures released several years ago showed it had the highest rate of fatalities per 100,000 people.
Last week’s statistics – revealed by Drugs Policy Minister Angela Constance – showed more than 1300 people died of drug misuse in Scotland last year, with a record number of deaths for the seventh year in a row.
Opposition politicians reacted with fury to the funding cut.
Labour MSP Michael Marra, a former Dundee councillor, said: “As Scotland’s drug death figures reach the highest ever, with Dundee as the epicentre, it is unfathomable that vital support services are being cut. These lifeline services are key to rehabilitation and ensuring those in recovery are supported.
“The service is as important as drug and alcohol partnerships in solving this complex problem. Councils need the funding to ensure they are available.
“The First Minister must intervene to save this programme, which she herself championed.”
The annual figures showed there were 1339 drug deaths last year – an increase of 75 from the 1264 recorded the previous year.
Scotland continues to have the highest drug death rate recorded by any country in Europe. Its rate is more than three-and-a-half times that of England and Wales.
The number of drug-related deaths has risen substantially over the past 20 years and is now almost three times higher than a decade ago.
MSP Sue Webber, the Scottish Conservatives’ shadow minister for drug policy, called for the Scottish Government to continue funding the project in Dundee.
She said: “This is exactly the services we should be finding more funding to help. The SNP Government must U-turn immediately on this disastrous decision.
“Cutting this key service now would be stupidity of the highest order. We need to be boosting front line support to tackle drug deaths in Dundee and across the country, not slashing projects that help people suffering addiction.”
Lib Dem housing spokesman Paul McGarry called the funding cut “heartbreaking”.
He said: “Everyone has the right to a safe place to call home – especially when battling an addiction. We know that education and support are key for a successful recovery. These funding decisions will prevent that recovery and potentially contribute to the dark rising of drug deaths.”
Last week’s National Records of Scotland statistics were six months late due to a backlog in processing toxicology results and delays
due to Covid-19. They show that two-thirds of those who died were aged 35 to 54.
The Scottish Government said: “We have been fully assured by Dundee City Council that Housing First will continue.
“We fully support the Housing First programme. It’s integral to our Ending Homelessness strategy and we have contributed significantly to the Pathfinder programme for the five cities.”
Dundee City Council confirmed the Housing First Pathfinder programme was ending.
It said: “Dundee City Council and its partners – including Dundee Health and Social Care Partnership and Transform Community
Development – are mainstreaming Housing First in Dundee following the planned ending of the Housing First Pathfinder programme on September 30, 2021. Funding for the Pathfinder came from the charity Social Bite through the Corra Foundation charity and the Scottish Government to a local consortium.”
Social Bite said: “This programme has resulted in 531 rough sleepers being helped off Scotland’s streets into their own permanent tenancies with all of the wraparound support they need.
“It’s really critical that local authorities involved in the Pathfinder programme, including Dundee, successfully mainstream Housing First into their response to homelessness.”
