WIDER POLICIES
Advice and Support Policy
Overview
This section provides a review of advice and support policies, which are relevant to homeless people, in England, Scotland and Wales.
Homelessness and Advice and Support Policy
It is widely agreed that advice and support are key to homelessness prevention, particularly given the increasing emphasis on the ‘personal' factors that cause homelessness. For example, the Government's 2003 report More than a roof: a report into tackling homelessness states that "it is absolutely vital that organisations promote information, advice and mediation services.... Getting the right help at the right time can sometimes prevent homelessness completely or ensure that someone's experience of homelessness is less costly, both in human and financial terms".
Relevant Policies
Advice and support policy is fully devolved to Scotland and Wales.
Current Government policy in England, Scotland and Wales is such that advice and support is predominantly an issue for local authorities, who now have a duty to offer advice and assistance to all households who are officially recognised as homeless.
English Advice and Support Policy
Unlike in Scotland and Wales, where there are defined sets of quality standards, English policy is more focused on spreading 'good practice'.
- The 2002 Homelessness Act: The act requires that local authorities offer advice and support to all households who are officially recognised as homeless and stipulates a minimum level of advice to be given.
- DCLG (formerly ODPM): Also spreads 'good practice' about advice and assistance, and supports some prevention schemes with funding.
- Connexions: Although the primary motivation behind Connexions is getting young people back into learning, it also provides advice and support across a wide range of areas including housing advice, family mediation, and drug and alcohol services.
Scottish Advice and Support Policy
- National Standards for Housing Information, Advice and Services: From 2003, local authority advice has been expected to meet certain quality standards. Particular priority is given to prison leavers, care leavers, and ex-armed forces personnel.
- Careers Scotland: Also provides support primarily targeted at getting people aged 16 to 19 into education, training or employment.
Welsh Advice and Support Policy
- 2002 Homelessness Act: The act applies as in England, requiring that local authorities offer advice and support to all households who are officially recognised as homeless and stipulates a minimum level of advice to be given.
- Extending Entitlement: supporting young people in Wales: This report sets out the entitlements of young people aged between 11 and 25. There is also a specialist advice service, 'Youth Gateway' for young adults (aged 16-25) which encompasses homelessness. There is no equivalent for older adults.
- Wider Assembly Initiatives: The Assembly is trying to promote good quality housing advice through the All-Wales advice forum, quality marks and trying to promote independent housing advice services.
Commentary on Advice and Support Policy
Consideration should be given to developing comprehensive frameworks for all advice and support services for older adults to complement the equivalent frameworks that already exist for younger adults.
Page last modified on 22/06/2006 at 16:02
