This content applies to Scotland only.

Housing is one of the main characteristics that defines a community, and the impact of housing policy extends deep into the quality of life that people in communities experience.

Shelter's policy work on people and communities

Shelter has published a wide range of material on the interaction between housing policy and communities, which can be downloaded from the policy library. Topics covered include the Scottish Government's antisocial behaviour policies and how these impact on homelessness, not least in relation to their potential to cause homelessness. We are also concerned with the way different groups, such as young people, ethnic minority communities and travellers, are affected by housing and homelessness issues.

Key policy documents on people and communities

• Developing a youth homeless mediation scheme
  This good practice guide is aimed primarily at practitioners interested in establishing a mediation scheme focused on homeless young people in Scotland. It is a starting point for those considering setting up a scheme, or building links with a provider of mediation services.
• Stage One of the debate on antisocial behaviour
  This briefing sets out Shelter's views on the Scottish Government's antisocial behaviour legislation and calls for a number of the legal measures proposed to be amended, on the grounds that, at best, they could be ineffective and at worst, could cause homelessness.

Research and statistics on communities

Our Recent publications page often has summaries of and links to information on how housing and homelessness issues affect particular communities, including older people, young people, travellers, and people from black and minority ethnic communities.

Further information

Our advice pages contain lots of information on antisocial behaviour and other neighbourhood issues. There's also a section aimed at young people, as well as information for people with special needs.