The Scottish Government

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PREVENTING HOMELESSNESS

58. The importance of preventing homelessness cannot be overstated. Prevention activity is a priority for Ministers and local authorities - it is more cost effective than responding at a time of crisis and far better for the quality of life of the individuals concerned. As is stressed above, a wide cross-section of agencies have a role to play in preventing homelessness - we would reiterate the importance of all these agencies coming together to develop and implement the local homelessness strategy.

59. There is a wide range of activity already being undertaken throughout Scotland with a view to preventing homelessness. Interventions range from general advice and information which may be provided in a mainstream setting to dedicated support schemes which kick in when there is an imminent threat of homelessness. Schemes led or supported by local authorities include early intervention or enforcement measures to tackle antisocial behaviour at an early stage before such behaviour escalates; school-based housing education; financial and debt advice and family mediation services.

Advice and information

60. Local authorities have a legislative duty to provide advice and information regarding homelessness and the prevention of homelessness free of charge to anyone in their area who requires it. Guidance makes clear that these services should meet the Homepoint National Standards. The Executive and Communities Scotland are reviewing current arrangements to ensure a more strategic approach to national policy development on advice and information and to ensure that policy on housing and homelessness advice and information is consistent with that on money/debt and legal issues.

Housing options

61. The Executive and local authorities are keen to ensure that homelessness and other forms of housing need are handled in a manner which ensures the most appropriate and sustainable solution for the household. We will therefore work together to ensure that guidance on the prevention of homelessness emphasises the importance of considering the full range of options available to all households in housing need, and informing the household of these options as early as possible. A social rented tenancy will not always be the best or most sustainable solution for someone in housing need.

62. Some local authorities have developed this approach through the provision of a 'housing options' service, which is predicated on the view that in a number of circumstances homelessness can be prevented if tackled early enough. If someone is already in a tenancy, regardless of tenure, it is important that services are put in place to ensure they can remain there safely. This early prevention work also has parallels within the health sector for example. It is also important to respond to those who wish to move on from the current tenancy - perhaps to smaller or larger accommodation or to accommodation which better suits their current mobility.

63. In order for a housing options approach to be successful, staff need to have accurate and up to date information on all local services in their area, including stock profile information across all sectors. Any directory of local services should cover all available resources within the area, recognising that many people in housing need will also have a range of other needs which should be addressed if their housing situation is going to be resolved effectively. Another option is the Mortgage to Rent scheme which helps home owners in danger of being made homeless by offering them the flexibility to change the tenure of their home to a tenancy in the social rented sector. The scheme has helped 227 households avoid homelessness since 2003.

High risk groups

64. There are a number of groups of people who appear to be at particular risk of homelessness and arrangements have therefore been put in place to attempt to minimise the risk of homelessness amongst young people leaving care; people leaving the armed forces; and patients leaving hospital. In particular, new regulations and guidance on the provision of accommodation and support for young people leaving care came into force in April 2004. Housing advice projects in prisons have also been evaluated and discussions are taking place with a view to placing these services on a more permanent footing. It is crucial that housing issues are addressed early so that accommodation is available on release, reducing the risk of re-offending. The Management of Offenders etc (Scotland) Act 2005 provides an important opportunity to address these issues, building on improved joint working which is already taking place.

Legislation

65. Legislation is in place to ensure that courts must take delays or failures in Housing Benefit into account when considering whether to grant repossession on the basis of rent arrears. Local authorities have also incorporated targets relating to the administration of Housing Benefit in their homelessness strategies.

66. We will bring into force section 11 of the 2003 Act, and associated statutory guidance, in 2006. This requires landlords (both social and private) and creditors to inform local authorities of any repossession proceedings. This means that local authorities will be alerted to households at risk of homelessness at an earlier stage - and may be able to respond either on an individual basis or by reassessing their strategic approach.

Further guidance

67. There is a need to take stock of the different approaches which are being taken throughout Scotland - to evaluate whether or not these are successful and to what extent prevention activity can impact on demand under the homelessness legislation (and therefore affect authorities' ability to respond to the 2012 target).

68. We will work with the Homelessness Monitoring Group and its subgroups to develop a framework for evaluation. We will also work with these groups and Communities Scotland to develop and disseminate practice guidance which sets out the approaches which have been put in place to prevent homelessness and which have had a positive impact. We will also create an innovation fund from 2006/07 which will enable local authorities to develop demonstration projects.

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