The Scottish Government

« Previous | Contents | Next »

Listen

Indicators of Sustainable Development for Scotland

Indicator 21: Social Concern

Number of homeless people entitled to permanent accommodation

Source: Scottish Executive Housing Statistics Branch, taken from HSG/2002/1 Housing Trends Bulletin 2002.

Notes: The figures given are estimates based on information from the authorities' individual case returns. Local authorities generally provide case returns for around 92% of the applications they receive. The information from the case returns is grossed up to the total number of applications as recorded on the authorities' quarterly summary returns. Since the resulting figures are estimates the numbers are rounded to the nearest hundred.

The number of applications figures quoted will include households which have applied more than once to the authority under the homeless persons legislation. Accurate information on the number of applications from households which have applied previously is not yet available.

The relevance of the indicator

Part of sustainable development is having regard for others who do not have access to the same level of resources. We are committed to tackling homelessness.

Choice of indicator

The figures shown relate to the number of homeless households entitled to permanent accommodation, rather than homeless people.

Detailed definition and source details

TheHousing (Homeless Persons) Act 1977, now consolidated into Part II of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 as amended by the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001, introduced statutory duties on housing authorities to assist those who are homeless or potentially homeless (i.e. threatened with homelessness), including providing accommodation in certain circumstances. Only unintentionally homeless households that are in 'priority need' ⁴⁷ are entitled to permanent accommodation.

The legislation requires local authorities to make inquiries into the circumstances of applicants in order to satisfy themselves whether the applicant is homeless or potentially homeless. Section 24 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 defines homelessness for the purposes of the Act as follows: A person is homeless if he/she has no accommodation in the United Kingdom or elsewhere. A person is also homeless if he/she has accommodation but cannot occupy it, for example because of a threat of violence. A person is potentially homeless (i.e. threatened with homelessness) if it is likely that he/she will become homeless within 2 months.

Trends

The number of households assessed as homeless (excluding potentially homeless) have risen by 92% between 1990/91 and 1999/00 (from 15,400 to 29,500). The percentage of these households that are assessed as being unintentionally homeless and in priority need (and therefore entitled to permanent accommodation to be found by the Local Authority), has fallen from 64% in 1990/91 to 52% in 1999/00.

Further disaggregation

Full Local Authority breakdowns by assessment decision and action for 1999/00 can be found in the Homelessness Statistical Bulletin (HSG/2001/5) published in November 2001 ⁴⁸.

The chart and table on the preceding page show the number of households with dependent children who are assessed as homeless and the number of such households who are entitled to permanent accommodation - the difference being mainly homeless households with dependent children deemed to be intentionally homeless. In each year since 1990/91, over 85% of households with dependent children who are assessed to be homeless have been entitled to permanent accommodation rising to 90% in 1991/00.

Source: Scottish Executive Housing Statistics Branch

Target

By 2012, local authorities will be required to find permanent accommodation for all households assessed as being homeless. This will be achieved in stages through the gradual expansion of the definition of priority need to the extent that, by the target date, the definition embraces everyone who is assessed as homeless. Where the right to permanent accommodation has been suspended because of a finding of intentionality, as a consequence of legislation introduced in 2002, the local authority will still have a duty to provide accommodation. The definition of priority need will be expanded progressively as increased services and accommodation are provided. The precise timing of the progressive expansion will be decided in the light of progress, made on an assessment of local authorities' homelessness strategies and local housing strategies. The Homelessness Monitoring Group will advise Ministers on the timetable for expansion within the target of full expansion by 2012.

Action

We are tackling homelessness in a number of ways, including:

• Delivery of the recommendations of the First Report of the Homelessness Task Force⁴⁹ through Part I of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 which expanded the rights of homeless people and increased the duties on local authorities. In particular local authorities are now required to make assessments of homelessness and establish strategies for preventing and alleviating homelessness in their area. Since September 2002 everyone assessed as homeless has had the right, as a minimum, to temporary accommodation, advice and assistance.

• Acceptance of the 59 recommendations of the Final Report of the Homelessness Task Force⁴⁹, including both legislation proposals and a wide range of administrative and good practice recommendations to prevent and alleviate homelessness. A Homelessness Monitoring Group as been established to monitor the delivery of the Report.

• Legislative recommendations from the Task Force Report are being taken forward in the Homelessness etc. (Scotland) Bill, currently before Parliament, which will establish the 'other special reason' categories of priority need within primary legislation; provide for the establishment of a timetable for the expansion of priority need with a target date of 2012 for its eventual abolition; change the current duty on local authorities to investigate intentionality to a power to do so; and ensure a continuing duty by local authorities for the provision of accommodation and support to households found to be intentionally homeless.

• The Homelessness etc. (Scotland) Bill will also introduce provisions which will ensure that a household assessed as intentionally homeless has an opportunity to address the issues which led to the intentionality finding whilst accommodated in a short Scottish Secure Tenancy (SST) with support, to be converted to a permanent tenancy if successful, but at least has a right to some form of accommodation irrespective of the success of the short SST.

« Previous | Contents | Next »