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Housing Bill (Scotland)

The Housing Bill and new legal duties relating to housing support and homelessness

By way of follow up to the Unit's Bulletin published last week here is an update regarding the passage of the Housing Bill through Stage 3. As detailed in the November Bulletin, Jim Tolson MSP had proposed an amendment at Stage 3 which would have required local authorities to provide guidance about support for people who are homeless rather than a duty to assess their support needs and make provision for them.

This amendment was subsequently withdrawn and a further amendment put forward by the Scottish Government giving Ministers the power to specify the legal duty by making regulations about the assessment and provision of housing support services for those who are homeless or threatened with homelessness. The Bill was passed on 4th November and included this amendment.

During the debate Alex Neil, the Minister for Housing, said the Government amendment "offers a constructive way to ensure that homeless people are well supported, while acknowledging concerns about the possible cost implications for local authorities and the support needs of other vulnerable groups. The amendment provides the opportunity for stakeholders to work together in a flexible and collaborative way. I believe that it is prudent to take time to ensure that we develop regulations that achieve the desired outcome, which is high-quality housing support services for homeless people who need them."

The next stage will be for the drafting of regulations which will be subject to consultation with COSLA as well as organisations representing the interests of homeless persons before being laid before Parliament for scrutiny and approval.

The Bill can be viewed in its final form at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/s3/bills/36-Housing/ Housing Support is dealt with at: 143B Housing support: persons found to be homeless or threatened with homelessness.

Yvette Burgess
Unit Director
09.11.10