Overview | Policy and legislation | People at risk of homelessness | Homelessness strategies | Benefits | Prevention & tenancy sustainment

Homelessness Strategies

In Scotland, the 32 local authorities have a statutory legal duties to assist homeless people. SCSH works with local authorities to improve policy and practice towards homeless people and vulnerable groups. Every local authority has developed a written strategy document.

Background to Strategies

Section 1 of the 2001 Act required local authorities to carry out an assessment of homelessness in their area, and prepare and submit a strategy for preventing an alleviating homelessness in their area. All local authorities submitted their strategies by 1 April 2003 and many are now involved in revising their initial submissions, following comments by the Assessment Panel.

The production of a homelessness strategy enables local authorities to take a holistic approach to tackling and preventing homelessness, including rough sleeping. The corporate dimension of the strategy should ensure that all parts of the local authority are working together towards tackling and alleviating homelessness. For example, by ensuring that households are not evicted due to arrears, caused by a delay or failure by the Council to process a housing benefit claim.

The strategy also requires local authorities to adopt a partnership approach with housing associations, health boards , voluntary organisations and employability/ training organisations in order to develop sustainable solutions to homelessness, with the person at the centre.

For Example:

• In addition to having somewhere to live in the right location, a homeless person may need any (or none) of the following to prevent them from becoming homeless again:
• A rent deposit in order for them to access accommodation in the private rented sector.
• Help with claiming welfare benefits.
• A furniture grant or donated goods to furnish their home (social tenancies are unfurnished)
• Housing support services to help them maintain their tenancy
• Access to health service to address any health issues, e.g. drug misuse, alcohol use, mental health issues.
• Help with training and employability issues, to gain meaningful employment.
• Help with developing social networks.

More about Strategies

In order to prevent homelessness, local authority homelessness strategies should also identify actions which will make early and effective interventions to support people at risk of becoming homeless. As the Scottish Executive Guidance states these may include:

• arrangements for early identification of those getting into housing difficulties, across the full range of tenures and landlords
• ensuring access to advice and support for those getting into difficulties and those known to be at particular risk of homelessness, such as young people living on their own or people discharged from institutions, children and families and asylum seekers and refugees.
• ensuring the availability of, and access to family / relationship counselling /mediation, financial debt/advice, drug/alcohol counselling and proactive action to manage neighbour disputes and tackle harassment
• the provision of leaving home and housing education in schools and other youth services
• The identification and implementation of good practice examples of preventative services from elsewhere

Homelessness Strategy Officers Network

In order to help local authorities develop and implement their homelessness strategies, SCSH established the Homelessness Strategy Officers Network. SCSH administers and maintains the network and it is supported by a confidential email group which is accessible by each of the local authority homeless strategy officer representatives. The network also meets quarterly to discuss issues such as the prevention of homelessness and recent Scottish Executive policy changes, with a view of local authorities developing their homelessness strategies. If you would like to know more, please contact Daniel Coote, SCSH Policy Officer (contact us). Or visit Networks.