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FOREWORD
I welcome this second report from the
Homelessness Monitoring Group. I would like to thank the
Group for their efforts, not only in producing this report
but over the course of the year in taking forward the
recommendations of the Homelessness Task Force. The advice
which such a cross-sector Group is able to offer is
invaluable in ensuring we are implementing the
recommendations in a way which keeps up the momentum but is
also realistic and practical.
The Executive remains committed to abolishing priority
need by 2012 - thereby ensuring that every unintentionally
homeless person is entitled to permanent accommodation at
that point. We are also committed to the full range of Task
Force recommendations - implementation of which will
support and make possible the radical legislative reforms
and will improve the quality of life for all homeless
people in Scotland.
Everyone involved in the delivery of the recommendations
on the ground should be proud of what has been achieved so
far - more homeless people are being rehoused than ever
before and the legal rights of those threatened by, or
experiencing homelessness, have improved yet further over
the last year. Equally important, the range of support and
advice in place for people in crisis situations and people
working hard to rebuild their lives is also widening.
This is a very important year in terms of our longer
term vision as by the end of the year we are required to
make a statement setting out the detail of what has been
done, is being done and will be done to achieve the 2012
target. We will work closely with the Monitoring Group, and
directly with the sectors it represents, to ensure that
this statement is based on an informed understanding of the
current position and a realistic assessment of what more is
required.
MALCOLM CHISHOLM
Minister for Communities
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