Ensuring people receive help before reaching crisis.
Further measures to prevent people experiencing the trauma of
homelessness will be introduced as part of amendments to the
Housing (Scotland) Bill.
The Bill currently places a stronger importance on preventing
homelessness through ‘ask and act' duties on social landlords and
relevant bodies, such as Health Boards, Police Scotland and the
Scottish Prison Service, to ask about a person's housing
situation as early as they can and act to avoid them becoming
homeless wherever possible.
Scottish Government amendments to the Bill, developed with help
from homelessness charities including Crisis, will ensure people
get the help they need. They will also require a range of
services to do more to prevent homelessness and to co-operate,
share information and will be specific on what is required of
them to help people remain in their homes, supported by £4
million pilot programmes in 2025-26.
Housing Minister said:
“We want Scotland to be a world leader in homelessness
prevention. We already have the strongest homeless rights in the
world, but we want to go even further. These changes to the
Housing Bill will increase the likelihood that people will
receive help before reaching the point of crisis.
“Making sure everyone has the right to a safe and stable home is
essential to the Scottish Government's priority of ending child
poverty and the Bill will play a role in reaching that goal.
“Working closely with our partners including Crisis, we have
developed a set of amendments that further strengthens rights and
gives people the help they need by ensuring that preventing
homelessness becomes a collective responsibility across society.
“These amendments will have a lasting, positive impact for many
households, and I urge Parliament to back them when they come to
a vote.”
Background
Housing (Scotland) Bill |
Scottish Parliament Website
