Better support for homeless people in the Housing Bill

Shelter Scotland is proposing a straightforward amendment to allow better access to good 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:

a) a simple assessment of housing support needs for all households assessed as homeless, and
b) 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.