Taskforce set to recommend policies to help homeless people

The Scottish executive’s homelessness taskforce is set to
produce its final recommendations on future policies for
homelessness.

Two years work will be included in the report and it will set
out specific action to prevent and resolve homelessness.

Social justice minister Iain Gray said: “Homelessness in all its
forms is an affront to social justice. The fight against
homelessness is high on the executive’s list of priorities
and we believe everyone in Scotland should have a decent, secure
home to live in.”

At a homelessness conference in Scotland, the minister
underlined a raft of action which the executive has been able to
act on before the report is produced.

This includes the improvement of the rough sleepers initiative;
£6 million to reduce the number of people in bed and breakfast
accommodation and the introduction of a new electronic system for
capturing statistical data on homelessness.

Gray also called for local authorities to ensure they take a
co-ordinated approach to fulfilling their new statutory
responsibilities to prepare homelessness strategies in their
areas.

“Services to the homeless must become seamless. The new
strategic responsibility cannot be seen as the responsibility of
housing departments alone – social work, education and
finance departments will all have their part to play,” he said.

“It is also necessary to establish a shared understanding and
commitment with other partners – health boards, voluntary
organisations and housing providers,” he concluded.