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HOMELESSNESS
AN ACTION PLAN FOR PREVENTION AND EFFECTIVE RESPONSE
REPORT FROM THE HOMELESSNESS TASK FORCE TO SCOTTISH MINISTERS
DELIVERY
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In this report we have set out a wide-ranging programme of actions to prevent
and tackle homelessness over the next 10 years. The aim should be to
achieve a step-reduction in the incidence of homelessness, and to ensure
that those who nonetheless become homeless have all the support they need
to resolve their problems.
- The programme which we recommend will require action and continued support
by national and local government, other public agencies and the voluntary
and private sectors. Co-ordination and joint working will be crucial. We recommend
that, building on the work of the Task Force, a monitoring group should be
set up, with representation from the various interests, to take forward the
action programme. We envisage that the monitoring group should:-
(i) comment on proposals, and related guidance, for implementing the Task
Force’s recommendations;
(ii) advise on the specific timing and arrangements for the phased extension
and ultimate abolition of priority need;
(iii) monitor the impact of the suspension of the local connection provision;
(iv) monitor movements in statistical indicators at both all-Scotland
and local levels;
(v) promote and facilitate benchmarking across statutory services;
(vi) support ongoing work to promote change and improvement in the performance
and culture of all the various agencies providing services related to homelessness;
(vii) submit periodic progress reports to Scottish Ministers.
The monitoring group should work closely with Communities Scotland as the
body regulating local authorities in the performance of their homelessness
functions and with other groups such as the Health and Homelessness Steering
Group, who monitor service delivery to homeless people.
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The new system for collecting data about homelessness applications will
provide essential information for the monitoring group. We recommend that
the group should pay particular (but not exclusive) attention to movements
in the following indicators:-
(i) the number of households applying under the homelessness legislation;
(ii) the number of households assessed as homeless;
(iii) the proportion of homeless households placed directly into permanent
accommodation;
(iv) the number of households experiencing repeat homelessness;
(v) the number of homeless households — particularly
families with children — in Bed & Breakfast;
(vi) time spent in Bed & Breakfast;
(vii) time taken by the local authority to deal with cases;
(viii) customer satisfaction indices.
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However, as previously noted, information about those applying to local
authorities under the homelessness legislation only reveals part of the
picture. The Scottish Household Survey (SHS), which continuously collects
social and demographic information about Scottish households, has potential
for monitoring experience of homelessness or potential homelessness across
the entire population. From this year onwards, the SHS will gather new data
on whether people have ever been homeless, and how many times they have
been homeless over the last 5 years. To build on this initial data,
we recommend that an expanded suite of questions relating to homelessness
should be included in the SHS from 2003.
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