This content applies to Scotland only.

Shelter believes that everyone should have a home.  Homelessness must be prevented wherever possible and tackled effectively when it does occur.

Homelessness

Scotland is recognised as having the best homelessness laws in Europe. When these are fully implemented in 2012, every unintentionally homeless household will have the right to a permanent home. With around 40,000 households assessed as homeless by councils each year the big challenge is to ensure that the 2012 commitment becomes reality. Read more.

Benefits, money and debt

People’s finances are crucial to the housing choices that they are able to make.

For people on low incomes Housing Benefit is meant to help people afford their housing costs. Shelter has long campaigned for improvements to the system to make it fairer and simpler. In 2008 a new flat rate Local Housing Allowance System is being introduced for tenants in the private rented sector.

Rising prices have seen people stretching their personal finances to be able to buy a home. This leaves people vulnerable to losing their home through repossession should they then be unable to meet their commitments.  As repossessions are on the rise in Scotland we are calling for improvements to the safety net that should provide support for struggling home-buyers. Read more.

Evictions

Thousands of tenants in the social rented sector are either threatened with losing their home or are evicted each year. As the 2012 homelessness target approaches it is important for councils and housing associations to use eviction as a last resort and not make tenants homeless when there is an alternative to legal action. Read more.