Homelessness prevention duties: equality impact assessment results

Equality Impact Assessment Results

Title of Policy:

Part 5 - Housing (Scotland) Bill ("the Bill")- Homelessness Prevention Duties

Summary of aims and desired outcomes of Policy:

The aim of the policy is to strengthen housing and homelessness rights and rebalance the system away from crisis intervention in favour of early prevention activity through the introduction of an 'ask and act' provision on relevant bodies, so as to identify people at risk of homelessness earlier and enable them to access the support they need; as well as to make changes to existing homelessness legislation to require local authorities to intervene at an earlier stage to prevent homelessness.

The legislation will build on existing good practices and place a collective responsibility across public services to prevent homelessness. Having legal duties in place should help drive the allocation of resources and set clear expectations of the public sector. The policy will thus enable the identification of a pending risk of homelessness, or homelessness, of a household, and enable prevention activity to be undertaken before homelessness occurs, through early intervention across public services.

It supports the following outcomes within the existing National Performance Framework, which are fundamental to the ambition to end homelessness in Scotland:

• We respect, protect and fulfil human rights and live free from discrimination;
• We tackle poverty by sharing opportunities, wealth and power more equally;
• We live in communities that are inclusive, empowered, resilient and safe;
• We grow up loved, safe and respected so we can realise our full potential.

Directorate:

Directorate for Local Government and Housing: Better Homes Division: Homelessness Unit.