The Homelessness Monitoring Group (HMG), the successor to the Homelessness Task Force (HTF), produces an annual report outlining progress towards implementation of its recommendations and its priorities for the forthcoming year. The latest HMG Annual Report was published in April 2008.

2008: Annual Report

The national Homelessness Monitoring Group (HMG) has published its latest annual review of progress on homelessness. It tracks that progress against five national indicators and also on the rate at which progress towards the 2012 target is being achieved.  In Shelter’s view the report is a useful summary of activity across the country and poses some clear challenges.  However, it is increasingly clear that an independent assessment of progress to 2012 would be valuable.

2006: Annual Report

The HMG published its Annual Report for 2005-06 in April 2006 - the report is available to read on the Scottish Government website. Shelter organised a one-day conference to coincide with the publication of the report, and you can download presentations from the Delivering on Homelessness event here.

2005: Key legal objectives

2005 was another busy year in the implementation of the Homelessness Task Force agenda.

The HMG Annual Report sets out the priorities for the year ahead, and in 2005 included a range of key objectives. We have identified the main ones below, with information on how these were progressed during 2005.

1. The publication of a statement from the Minister by the end of the year, setting out how priority need will be abolished by 2012.

This statement was made to the Scottish Parliament on 21 December 2005. The full text of the Minister's statement is available on the Scottish Government website. You can also read Shelter's response to this statement here.

2. Considering the way forward for implementing the intentionality provisions in the 2003 Act.

A major research project was undertaken, looking into the support that intentionally homeless households may need to be able to sustain accommodation. This research will be published in 2006.

3. Monitoring the implementation of the Unsuitable Accommodation (Scotland) Order 2004 and section 11 of the Homelessness etc (Scotland) Act 2003

• Local Authorities have been attempting to implement the requirements of the Unsuitable Accommodation (Scotland) Order throughout 2005 and the Scottish Government is due to publish statistical evidence on the impact of this in March 2006.
• The Scottish Government has pledged to implement Section 11 of the 2003 Homelessness Act by 31 December 2006 - This requires landlords (both social and private) and creditors to notify local authorities of any repossession proceedings.

4. Commencement of the local connection provisions from the 2003 Act

This is expected in 2006.

2005: Changing practice

Key objectives

Not forgetting changing practice, the Monitoring Group is intent on:

• taking forward work on those leaving prison
• monitoring the implementation of the Health and Homelessness Standards
• working to ensure that homeless people are empowered and involved in the development and delivery of services.
• Ensuring that frontline homelessness services staff provide a good service to homeless people treating with respect and courtesy.

HMG sub-groups

The HMG recently established three sub-groups to take forward key aspects of its work for the following year. These are:

1. 2012 Planning: set up to advise the Monitoring Group as to the implications of this analysis for the timing of, and arrangements and process for, the abolition of priority need.
2. Intentionality: set up to advise the Monitoring Group on the timing and processes for implementing the intentionality related provisions of the Homelessness etc (Scotland) Act 2003.
3. Awareness Raising and Good Practice: set up to support implementation of Task Force's recommendations relating to culture change in service provision, and to advise the Monitoring Group on measurement of current attitudes towards homeless people and the change in these over time.

You can find out more about the work of the subgroups by looking at the Scottish Government's web pages on the Homelessness Monitoring Group.

2004: Key legal priorities

In terms of legal priorities for 2004, the main issues identified by the HMG were:

• commencement of the Homelessness etc (Scotland) Act 2003
• publication of the revised Code of Guidance
• production of regulations under section 7 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001
• provision of support to local authorities and other service providers charged with implementing homelessness legislation
• consideration of unsuitable accommodation regulations under section 9 of the Homelessness etc (Scotland) Act 2003 - that is, the regulations ending the use of bed and breakfast accommodation for families.

2004: Other priorities

The HMG also identified other priorities.

Promoting culture change in service provision

• All services coming into contact with people who have experienced homelessness to promote values, attitudes and behaviours that deliver responsive and personalised services.
• Joint training to take place across local agencies.
• People who have experienced homelessness to be better informed and more involved in the design and delivery of the services they use.

Housing supply and quality

• Introduction of Scottish Housing Quality standard.
• Local Housing Strategies to be submitted by April 2004.
• Research into the expansion of priority need to be completed.