Progress on homelessness: evidence to Local Government and Communities Committee 11 June 2008

There is continuing high-level political commitment to Scotland’s internationally-acclaimed homelessness programme.

• However, some aspects of delivery are either difficult to evidence or show signs of pressure. In particular, the pace at which local authorities are moving towards 2012 is not sufficient to guarantee all will meet the target.

• In addition, inspections of homelessness services demonstrate that insufficient priority is being attached to those services within local authorities’ overall responsibilities.

• The homelessness programme and, in particular, the 2012 target, remains achievable. However, in order for that to happen, we urge the Committee to press ministers for a step change in delivery, focused on three areas:

- Options to increase housing supply;
- Measures to embed prevention of homelessness more fully in local practice;
- A thorough “stock-take” on progress on homelessness, aimed at producing a refreshed action plan.