2007 marks the halfway point in a 10 year programme that will revolutionise homelessness services in Scotland, culminating in the abolition of the priority need test by 2012.

This report provides a broad overview of how far homelessness services have come in being able to meet this challenging target.  It also examines the priorities for the coming years in ensuring that the 2012 target is met, providing Shelter's views on what the most important factors are and drawing on the opinions of local authority homelessness staff as expressed in a recent Shelter survey.

It is clear that there is still some way to go to ensure that the vision of everyone in Scotland having the right to a home becomes a reality.  It is also clear, however, that this goal is achievable.  There are a number of interventions and actions identified within this report that can assist local authorities dealing with increased responsibilities to tackle homelessness; to both prevent homelessness and increase housing supply to help meet the 2012 target.  These will require the engagement of all those working in housing and homelessness in Scotland across all levels.

Scotland has experienced a great deal of political change in Scotland in 2007 but the stated commitment of central government to meeting the 2012 target remains.  Scotland continues to lead the world in the way that we are dealing with homelessness.  We are still only halfway there and the momentum required to meet the 2012 target will have to be maintained and built upon for the next five years and beyond.