The Homelessness etc. (Scotland) Act 2003 takes forward the proposals for legislative change incorporated in the final report of the Homelessness Task Force. The Act amends existing homelessness legislation, contained in the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 and the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001. It also makes changes to repossession proceedings for houses let on assured tenancies, as currently set out in the Housing (Scotland) Act 1988.
Report drawing attention to some of the symptoms of the shortage of affordable housing in Scotland. These include lengthening waiting lists, increased use of temporary accommodation, increased competition for decreasing numbers of lets and rising numbers of evictions. To counter these trends the report urges the Scottish Government to continue investing in affordable housing.
Report building on research into the causes and consequences of social exclusion and complex needs and concluding that, as these can vary by age group and region, identifying and understanding these characteristics can help services be better targeted.
Over the last 10 years the role of Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) in Scottish social housing has increased dramatically. This report looks at four main areas of the sector’s work with homeless people: housing homeless households; preventing homelessness and sustaining tenancies; providing supported accommodation; and RSLs’ engagement in strategy development.
Draft guidance is presented. Local authorities’ duties to homeless people are set out in the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 as amended by both the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 and the Homelessness etc (Scotland) Act 2003. Section 32(8) of the 1987 Act sets out that a local authority, in exercising its functions under section 31 or 32 in respect of an applicant having a priority need for housing by virtue of a dependent child residing with them, must have regard to the best interests of the dependent children.
Document exploring the relationship between food and homelessness and highlighting case studies of work going on to help homeless people gain better access to healthy, nutritious food.
Paper outlining the development and implementation of tenancy sustainment policies at Glasgow Housing Association in response to a high tenancy failure rate.
Report of a study which examined a sample of eight users perceptions of the effectiveness of Sacro's supported accommodation service in Glasgow. It was found that the service was seen as contributing to a reduction in re-offending and enhanced community safety and served as a stepping stone for offenders to independent living.
Paper putting forward a model for closing the gap between improved outcomes in the short term and laying sustainable foundations for social inclusion over the long term. It suggests connecting people with wider opportunities to find and keep work as a means of enabling people to maintain integration after an initial success in escaping homelessness.
Report describing the evolution of a one-year programme to provide volunteering opportunities for 52 homeless young people in London and Newcastle and offering tips to other organisations on the best way to set up and develop similar projects.