Efforts to tackle homelessness working, claims Scottish Government

Published by Max Salsbury for 24dash.com in Housing and also in Central Government

The Scottish Government has claimed that an innovative approach it has taken to prevent homelessness is proving beneficial.

Pointing to research published today, the Government says that Housing Options Hubs have positively progressed the development of the Housing Options approach and assisted local authorities to work together on joint projects and the sharing of best practice.

Local authority ‘housing hubs’ comprising neighbouring councils were established in 2010 to help local authorities work together to meet the 2012 homelessness target that requires that all unintentionally homeless households will be entitled to settled accommodation by December this year.

Housing Minister Keith Brown said: “This research shows there has been significant buy in from councils to our joint approach to tackling homelessness.

“That is backed up by the latest homelessness figures, which showed we are making significant progress and are on target to meet our commitment that by December all unintentionally homeless households will be entitled to settled accommodation."

Helen Barclay, Policy Adviser at the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA) said: “The funding for the continued development of housing options hubs across Scotland is to be welcomed, as part of joint efforts to take a preventative approach to reducing homelessness.

“The majority of the hubs are about to embark on the broadening of housing options within their own areas and housing associations and co-operatives will assist by providing information on their stock profiles to assist applicants with their choices.

“This will also help to identify amenity and adapted housing for people with particular needs, such as the disabled. The extra funding is welcome, to allow further partnership working to help identify and reduce crisis situations and allow further preventative measures to be put in place.”