Housing options (PREVENT1) statistics in Scotland: 2020 to 2021
This statistics bulletin provides information on housing options services in Scotland in the period from 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021. It includes information on the number of approaches made, as well as details on the reasons for the approaches made, the activities undertaken, and the outcomes.
A note on interpreting the figures
As local authority needs differ, it is appropriate to tailor service provision to the needs specific to each local authority. Therefore, the use and implementation of Housing Options varies greatly between local authorities.
For that reason, it is not appropriate to make direct comparisons between local authority Housing Options figures. Instead, local authority figures should be used to understand the delivery of Housing Options at an individual local authority level only.
A Quick Guide to Housing Options
Local authorities have a statutory duty to ensure advice and information is available free of charge about:
(a) homelessness and the prevention of homelessness, and
(b) any services which may assist a homeless person or assist in the prevention of homelessness
When households seek assistance for housing-related issues from their local authority, they may be presented with advice on a range of housing options, including the opportunity to make a homelessness application. This is known as Housing Options and began to be implemented from around 2009.
The aim of this approach is to make households better informed of their options for accommodation, and ensure they are able to make a more informed choice.
However, it is important to note that Housing Options is not a statutory function, but local authorities can use it in the delivery of their statutory duties.
Impact of coronavirus
This is the first annual PREVENT1 statistics release for which COVID-19 restrictions and changes in practices were in place for the full reporting period. Where it is believed that COVID-19 has had an impact on the data and trends shown in the publication, these have been highlighted with explanations where possible.
Help us improve this publication and its statistics:
Get in touch by email: homelessness_statistics_inbox@gov.scot
All tables and charts from this publication are available online at: https://www.gov.scot/collections/homelessness-statistics/
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