In Fife, we are working hard to develop a Whole System Approach (WSA) to help prevent homelessness – bringing together services, organisations and communities to tackle the root causes of housing crisis and create long-lasting change.
A whole system approach is a way of solving complex problems by looking at the entire system, instead of tackling issues in isolation. It means working together across sectors to provide earlier support, better coordination and more effective solutions.
This collaborative project is based in the Cowdenbeath area, and runs until March 2027. It involves the following key partners:
How will we know we are making a difference?
We have put several measures in place to track progress and ensure we’re making a real impact:
Evaluation framework
- provide earlier interventions for people to prevent housing crisis and homelessness happening in the first place
- when people experience homelessness, there are co-ordinated services that are easy to access, with the right support at the right time while making best use of resources available
- system change is taking place and evidence is showing progress towards a Whole System Approach.
Steering group and workstreams
A dedicated steering group—made up of representatives from across the partnership—guides the project. They focus on three key workstreams:
- preparing for Ask & Act, part of the upcoming Housing (Scotland) Bill Prevention Duty
- developing lived experience involvement
- improving local data collection to inform decisions
Engaging with stakeholders
Our Quarterly Learning Cycle meetings bring partners together to share updates and gather feedback.
Indigo House, our independent “critical friend,” provides an external perspective and helps us reflect on progress.
Community Navigators in action
Two Community Navigators, in post since March 2025, are working directly with people in Cowdenbeath to help them access the right support at the right time.
Public Livingroom project
The movement Camerados have brought a Public Livingroom to the Cowdenbeath area, this is to give people a no obligation space to chat, have a cuppa and meet new people.
Games are provided and some books to support a book exchange if people would like to do so.
This is a place for anyone to come along to free of charge.
This is currently in a community space on Cowdebeath High Street but it could move to other locations to increase access to others.
Listening and responding
We’re using feedback from people with lived experience to shape services. When issues are raised we act. We have set up task and finish groups to focus on specific challenges.
Our first group looked at Out of Hours services and rough sleeping, leading to four recommendations that are now being implemented and monitored.
Rough Sleeping Reporting Pilot
To better understand rough sleeping in Cowdenbeath, we ran a two-month pilot. Local workers, such as refuse collectors, grounds staff, police, and fire services, were given a QR code to report sightings of rough sleeping. Our Safer Communities Team was ready to respond and offer support.
Although no cases were reported during the pilot, we’re expanding this approach. Soon, members of the public across Fife will be able to report rough sleeping through an online tool.
