Section: Homelessness & Rough Sleeping

News in Brief

In its response to the Housing Corporation's consultation on Performance Indicators (PIs), homelessness charity Shelter called for the introduction of assessments of the number of lettings allocated to homeless people. The Charity's proposals include a new interim PI aimed at measuring the percentage of local authority nominations refused by housing associations. Shelter argues that this will act as an incentive for associations to adjust allocation policies to cater for more homeless applicant referrals.
Shelter Scotland warned local authorities and housing associations that the 2012 target to house all homeless people would only be met through effective working partnerships. The Charity highlighted the need to ensure good practice in exercising section 5 referrals, through which homeless applicants are referred to housing associations by local authorities.
A joint statement from the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations, the Scottish Council of Voluntary Organisations, and Community Care Providers Scotland warned that cuts to Scottish councils' Supporting People budgets will have the effect of increasing homelessness as a result of reduced support services available to vulnerable people. The statement illustrated the claim with reference to the current reductions in preventative services, such as those that aim to support former homeless people maintain a tenancy.

In the Scottish Executive's 2004 spending review there were changes to the budget distribution method and a cut of 4%, with further cuts in the budget planned up to 2008. It is feared that this progressive cut in the budget will be a factor affecting the Scottish Executive's target to house all homeless people by 2012.

Section: Homelessness & Rough Sleeping

News in Brief

Housing Monthly Diary

Reporting on January 2006

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