Code of guidance
The Scottish Government publishes a statutory Code of Guidance on Homelessness, which councils must regard when carrying out their duties.
The code provides practical guidance to councils and other organisations working in partnership on how the legislation and related policies should be implemented.
Around the country, skilled staff in statutory and voluntary organisations are working to deliver holistic services. These are directed at addressing the underlying problems that cause homelessness and assisting people threatened with homelessness.
Many statutory and voluntary organisations are developing good practice as these services develop. This code also summarises some of this practice so that everyone can access it and learn from it.
An update to the guidance, to help local authorities develop homelessness prevention services and embed an early intervention approach to their service, was published in June 2009.