The Scottish Government

(18) Local homelessness strategies should review and, as necessary, make proposals for improvements in (1) the arrangements for early identification of those getting into housing difficulties, (2) the advice and support available for those getting into difficulties, (3) the advice and support available for those known to be at particular risk of homelessness and (4) the provision of leaving home and housing education in schools and other youth services. Strategies should take account of the differing and specific needs of families and single people living in urban and rural areas. They should ensure that they take account of the needs of people of differing age, race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, and belief.

(19) Homelessness strategies should review the availability, accessibility and quality of services such as relationship counselling/mediation, financial/debt advice, drug/alcohol counselling, advocacy and proactive action to manage neighbour disputes and tackle harassment. Local authorities should act proactively to ensure that those at greater risk of homelessness are made aware of the support available, and are helped to access this support.

(20) Homelessness strategies should provide for specific, concentrated support programmes for those threatened with eviction. These programmes should include the provision of access to independent advice and representation.

(21) Local authorities should review their policies for arrears management and anti-social behaviour to ensure that they do not lead to unnecessary or avoidable homelessness. Other social landlords should be asked to conduct similar reviews as part of their contribution to local homelessness strategies.

RAG status: Amber

Delivery contact: Scottish Executive (Homelessness Team) ,Communities Scotland

Progress to date:

• Section 1 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 requires local authorities to prepare homelessness strategies. The planning and delivery of homelessness strategies with partner agencies should respond to recommendations 18, 19, 20 and 21. Executive guidance to local authorities on the preparation of homelessness strategies was issued in March 2002. This highlighted all Task Force recommendations, but particularly those aimed at local authorities.
• All local authorities have prepared homelessness strategies for their areas. These were submitted to the Scottish Executive in early 2003. The strategies have been assessed by a cross-sector Panel established by HMG, chaired by the Executive and with representatives from CoSLA, Communities Scotland, the voluntary sector and the health sector. The Panel worked to an assessment system agreed by HMG, based on a framework shared with all local authorities in 2002. Detailed written feedback from the Panel was provided to all authorities to help them evolve the most effective strategies possible for their area.
• Communities Scotland is taking account of the content of strategies and the response of councils to the feedback when carrying out its inspection function.
• Communities Scotland has developed a website of all information about housing issues translated into a range of community languages for use by local authorities and others - http://languages.homepoint.communitiesscotland.gov.uk/
• Local authority progress reports on their strategies, submitted in April 2005, were used to inform the Ministerial Statement on Abolition of Priority Need, published in December 2005.
• Ministerial Statement set out Scottish Executive's intention to adjust monitoring and reporting arrangements on homelessness strategies and local outcome agreements. From 2006/07 local authorities will obtain approval for use of funding allocations against HMG's top level outcomes, including the outcome that "fewer people become homeless in the first place", and establish levels of progress which are being worked towards. At the end of the financial year a report of achievement and any local issues affecting progress will be provided to the Executive. Work is underway to develop a standard template for reporting progress.
• Local authorities asked to submit progress reports on 2005/06 to Scottish Executive by end April 2006.

Action required & by whom:

• 2012 planning subgroup/Scottish Executive/ CoSLA to develop template and guidance on format of outcome agreements and progress reports, ensuring that prevention work is specifically reported against.
• Local authorities to continue to develop services as strategies implemented and reviewed.
• Scottish Executive/Communities Scotland to ensure robust monitoring systems in place.

Key milestones:

• Guidance on preparation of homelessness strategies issued by Executive March 2002.
• Strategies submitted to Executive Spring 2003.
• Feedback provided to authorities Winter 2003.
• Assessment of strategies completed Winter 2004-05.
• LAs reported progress against homelessness strategies Summer 2005.
• Communities Scotland themed report on findings on homelessness in Pathfinder inspections published June 2005.
• LAs advised of new arrangements for monitoring strategies and outcome agreements - March 2006.
• Guidance on standard format of outcome agreements and progress reports issued -Spring 2006.