The Scottish Executive has passed its new Homelessness Bill, a law hailed by campaigners as one of the most progressive in Europe.
Over the next decade the act will give all homeless people the right to a home and extend the categories of people deemed to be in priority need of housing until it encompasses all homeless people. The categories (see "The act's main points", left) are already included in the 1998 homelessness code of guidance.

Campaigners said Scotland's committee system had allowed them to be more involved in drawing up the legislation so the law could make more radical promises than its counterpart for England and Wales.

It does not yet outlaw the use of bed and breakfasts for families, as the England and Wales Homelessness Act does, but Shelter Scotland hopes this will be changed in additional regulations expected in the next few months.

Alan McKeown, policy officer for the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, welcomed the aims of the legislation but warned that resources must be made available so that its aims could be carried out without disadvantaging other communities. He added, however, that the Scottish Parliament had assured councils the changes would not take place until funding was agreed.

Liz Nicholson, director of Shelter Scotland, welcomed the bill as a "landmark" but added that poor-quality housing must also be tackled.

The bill is likely to get royal assent in the summer.

  • The needs of older homeless people are ignored by mainstream service providers, according to a new report. The report by Help the Aged, Crisis and the Housing Associations' Charitable Trust suggested reforms to the benefits system and additional funding for voluntary groups helping old people.

    The act’s main points

    • There are new categories of people deemed to be in priority need of housing. They include: people with a chronic illness; women who have recently had a miscarriage or abortion; people who have been discharged from an institution; those aged 18 to 20 and at risk of sexual or financial exploitation, alcohol or drug abuse, or were in care; those at risk of violence or harassment as a result of their colour, race, sexual orientation or national origin. All homeless people have the right to a home
    • Councils are no longer obliged to check whether people are intentionally homeless. They will be obliged to house intentionally homeless people and offer support to address the problems that made them homeless, such as antisocial behaviour or arrears
    • Homeless people will no longer have to prove a connection with the council where they are seeking housing. However, the local connection test will be reintroduced if councils become overwhelmed with homeless applications from outside their area.

    • Source

    Housing Today