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FOREWORD
No one should be homeless in a modern and prosperous Scotland. We welcome this report from the Homelessness Monitoring Group which tracks progress towards the 2012 homelessness target to abolish priority need, giving all unintentionally homeless people the right to permanent accommodation.
The target is ambitious. The report indicates areas of good progress but reveals we still have a way to travel. Some local authorities face significant challenges; however, we remain committed to 2012 and to working together in partnership to ensure that delivery is managed and sustainable.
Our Concordat reflects the shared commitment by the Scottish Government and local government to achieve national and local priorities. Our working relationship is based on mutual respect and partnership. This relationship should lead to significant benefits for all users of local services, including homeless people, across Scotland. To meet 2012 we need to continue to work collaboratively by using the collective powers, assets, resources, skills and creativity of all partners - including local and central government, housing associations, community planning partners and the health and voluntary sectors. The range of partners involved demonstrates the complexity of homelessness and the response required to prevent and tackle it.
We would like to thank the Monitoring Group for their report which is a valuable assessment of evidence on local authorities' capacity to meet the 2012 target. We also welcome the publication of the report of the 2012 Homelessness Support Project. This independent study, undertaken by t wo local authority homelessness strategy officers and sponsored by ALACHO, COSLA and the Scottish Government, reports on local authorities' own views about their support needs and readiness to meet 2012. We have been impressed by the level of commitment from those who participated in the project, and the commitment from the people in our communities who provide homelessness services.
Together these two reports help inform our strategic planning for delivery of the 2012 target.
STEWART MAXWELL MSP
Minister for Communities | CLLR HARRY McGUIGAN
COSLA Spokesperson for Community Wellbeing and Safety |
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