Links to government departments and agencies.

Code of Guidance on Homelessness
The Scottish Government's guidance primarily for local authority staff dealing with homelessness policy and for making decisions on homelessness applications.

Communities Scotland
Communities Scotland was a Scottish Government agency, working to regenerate disadvantaged communities and helping to deliver better housing. Communities Scotland was abolished on 1 April 2008. On that date, most of its non-regulatory functions were transferred to the Scottish Government's Housing and Regeneration directorate. The work of Communities Scotland's Regulation and Inspection division has been transferred to the new Scottish Housing Regulator.

COSLA
The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities website. Includes a useful list of contact details for all local authorities in Scotland.

Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
The DWP website includes a helpful A-Z of benefits and has information for people who give advice on DWP services and benefits.

Direct.gov
The government's information site for the general public, covering rights, money, home, health, travel, crime and leisure. The site includes a directory of public and voluntary organisations.

The Scottish Government
The Scottish Government's website.

Health and Homelessness
The Scottish Government Health Department's Health and Homelessness site brings together a range of information that will inform you about current and planned activity in Scotland to meet the health and health care needs of homeless people.

Homelessness Monitoring Group
Website for the Government's Homelessness Monitoring group which was set up in 2002 to monitor progress on the Homelessness Task Force's recommendations. Includes links to its annual reports.

Homelessness Task Force
Website for the now ended Task Force. Includes information on membership, activities and reports to download.

Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI)
The OPSI website (formerly the HMSO website) contains UK legislation from 1988 onwards.

The Pension Service
The Pension Service provides state financial support to over 11 million pensioners. It also helps people to plan and provide for retirement.

Scottish Housing Best Value Network
A group of 24 Scottish Local Authorities who work together to secure best value in housing services.

Veterans Agency
Veterans Agency is the single point of contact within the Ministry of Defence for providing information, help and advice on issues of concern to veterans and their families. It does this through its free helpline 0800 169 2277. The Agency provides advice on a wide range of subjects including benefits and welfare issues, pensions and compensation, Service records and medals.