The key points in this paper are:

• Shelter Scotland is proposing a straightforward amendment to allow better access togood quality, timely housing support for homeless people, with the aim of preventing homelessness and sustaining tenancies. We envisage that the amendment would require local authorities to provide:
  1. a simple assessment of housing support needs for all households assessed ashomeless, and
  2. secure relevant advice and support services to meet housing support needs identified in the assessment.
• This provision echoes the framework which is now in place for homeless households accommodated in the private rented sector under section 32A of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987.
• We recognise that many of these housing support services already exist and are made available to homeless people. All that we are seeking to do is ensure that homeless households are consistently directed towards these services.
• The number of homeless households who require housing support is estimated to be atabout a third of those assessed as homeless. The range of support needs will vary depending on the individual needs and circumstances. In many cases the support services are modest. Support may include help with form filling, claiming benefits, emotional support or assistance to engage with other professionals.
• There is clear evidence that housing support services are neither assessed nor provided for all homeless households who may need them.
• Alongside the social benefits of housing support for homeless households, and the communities in which they live, there is strong evidence of the cost benefit not only to housing and homelessness services but across health, social services and criminal justice.
• Better support is not a new idea; it echoes the priorities set out in the Homelessness Task Force recommendations, the Code of Guidance for Homelessness and the list ofkey influencing factors in meeting the 2012 commitment. While we know that this has led to good practice for some, we need to give legislative substance to these efforts to make sure that homeless households in need are consistently directed towards appropriate support services.
• Any additional costs of strengthened duties would be quickly outweighed by the savings made across services from preventing homelessness, and from the positive social impact on improving the lives of the most vulnerable in Scotland and helping them to contribute and participate more fully in society.
• Our Better Support proposal is backed by a range of politicians, voluntary organisations and local authorities.