Homelessness Policy Watch
A review of government policies which impact on
homelessness by Crisis and NPI
POLICY FRAMEWORK
Within the National Policy Framework in England there has been a significant new approach in Government to preventing and tackling homelessness. This has included moving away from an exclusive focus on the more extreme forms of homelessness - such as rough sleeping - and towards a wider approach of addressing other forms of homelessness and the factors leading to them. This wider approach has included:
- The 2002 Homelessness Act, which extended the definition of priority need to include new groups of vulnerable people, and includes the requirement that all homeless people receive advice and assistance. In addition, Local Authorities are required to periodically develop homeless strategies, including an assessment of levels of homelessness and future trends preventative programmes, housing and support, and the available resources to undertake these programmes.
- Sustainable communities: settled homes; changing lives (2005): This document sets out the Government's plans for reducing homelessness and halving the number of households living in insecure temporary accommodation by 2010.
- The Government's strategy outlined a new emphasis on preventing homelessness, which was fleshed out in Preventing Homelessness: A Strategy Healthcheck (2006). Progress is to be measured with a new Best Value Performance Indicator (2005)
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More than a roof: a report into tackling homelessness (2003): This CLG report acknowledged and emphasised the need to focus on tackling the an individual's personal problems (e.g., relationship breakdown, domestic violence, debt, and drug abuse), as well as their need for accommodation.
- The Supporting People initiative (2003) aims to improve housing related support services for vulnerable people, including those who might be at risk of homelessness.
Scotland
The National Policy Framework in Scotland goes further than that in either England or Wales. In particular:
- Homelessness: An action plan for prevention and effective response (2002): This is a comprehensive strategy for tackling homelessness in Scotland. It was the final report of the Homelessness Task Force, and was fully endorsed by the Scottish Parliament.
- The Homelessness Monitoring Group has been set up to coordinate the implementation of the 'Helping Homeless People' strategy.
- The 2003 Homelessness etc. (Scotland) Act abolished the distinction between those in priority need and those not in priority need. All homeless households will be entitled to permanent housing by 2012 and, in the meantime, those not in priority need have been given the entitlement to temporary accommodation as a minimum.
Wales
The National Policy Framework in Wales is based on the same primary legislation as in England, combined with the Assembly's own policies for tackling homelessness:
- The 2002 Homelessness Act act applies to Wales as well as England (see details above).
- Secondary Legislation, including: Better Homes for People in Wales; the National Homelessness Strategy; and the creation of an Assembly homelessness unit.
Page last modified on 23/04/2008 at 12:10