The devastating impact of the pandemic has been felt across the UK, with lives lost, many people out of work, public services stretched to the limit, and many charities facing huge income losses at a time when they’re needed most.

It’s also been a time when the response from individuals, public services and charities has been inspiring. We have pulled together in ways we had only dreamed of, to protect people facing homelessness, who are at the sharp end of the outbreak, from the additional risk of coronavirus.

Government advice to wash our hands frequently and social distance, as well as to self-isolate if we show symptoms, is almost impossible for people sleeping rough or in night shelters or living in places like B&Bs and hostels.

READ MORE: Coronavirus: Suitable accommodation law extended to protect all homeless people

The Scottish Government took swift action to protect people living without a home and this must be applauded. People sleeping on our streets across Scotland have been moved into hotels and other types of self-contained accommodation, so they can follow the rules around social distancing and self-isolating. Around 200 people have been moved into hotels in Edinburgh and Glasgow alone, helping to ensure the safety of those most at risk during this outbreak. The Scottish Government have also acted to prevent people losing their homes by banning all evictions from properties for six months.

This has shown that homelessness is not inevitable. We have an opportunity like never before to ensure we don’t go back to a society which accepts people sleeping rough or being stuck for months on end in unsuitable accommodation.

The Scottish Government is seizing this ambition. Today sees the fast-tracking of legislation that will make sure no one has to live in unsuitable temporary accommodation, such as hostels and B&Bs, without access to basic facilities and support for months on end. Stays will be limited to no more than seven days - a measure that was previously only in place for pregnant women and children. Widening the law to include everyone is groundbreaking – Scotland is the first GB nation to do this.

READ MORE: Coronavirus in Scotland: Cities ramp up support for homeless and rough sleepers

Since 2017, we at Crisis have campaigned for this change after we found that many people who we were working with were moved into unclean, unsafe and unstable places after becoming homeless, and then becoming stuck there for months, sometimes years.

One person we worked with was stuck in a B&B for six months before he was helped to find a flat. He told us of the filthy conditions he was forced to live in, with no access to a fridge or freezer to store food, a nightly curfew and not being able to even keep hold of his key when he left the building. After living in what he described as survival mode, the value of simply having his own front door, carrying a key and being able to cook a meal has made a huge difference in helping him to rebuild his life.

Last year, the Scottish Government committed to this change but the date for implementation was 2021. The necessary action needed to protect people who are homelessness during this outbreak made the very urgent need for more to be done to ensure everyone has somewhere safe and permanent to call home abundantly clear. By bringing forward the introduction of this legislation to today, which will come into effect in October, and including it with a package of other measures to support people in the pandemic, the Scottish Government is making a strong commitment to end homelessness for good and making sure that everyone has somewhere safe and settled to call home.

READ MORE: Coronavirus: Edinburgh Airbnb flats help solve homelessness crisis

The challenge now is to ensure that local authorities and homelessness services are supported to ensure that everyone living in hotels, hostels and B&Bs can find a permanent home. 

During the crisis, the Westminster government restored housing benefit rates to cover the lowest third of private rents across Great Britain – the impact of this in Scotland is huge. In Edinburgh alone, over 400 properties a week are now available to people relying on benefits, previously there were just thirty. Already, at Crisis, we have been able to support people to find and move in to their own safe and settled home – something that everyone should have.

READ MORE: Coronvirus comment: it shouldn't take a pandemic to show we can end rough sleeping

In Scotland, people renting privately have much more legal protections to help them stay in their homes.  By making sure more people are supported to move into their own long-term tenancies, we could see a drastic reduction in the number of people having to live in unsuitable short-term housing at all.

Homelessness is not inevitable – the coronavirus outbreak has been a stark reminder of just how important it is to have a home. After this lockdown ends, we have a real opportunity to eradicate homelessness across Scotland once and for all. We must now all play our part and support local authorities to make this happen.

Jon Sparkes, chief executive of Crisis