Campaigners welcome scrapping of local connection rules for homeless in Scotland
Sector groups in Scotland have welcomed long-awaited new laws allowing homeless people to choose where they settle and access services.
The new laws, which have come into force today, mean anyone presenting as homeless can ask for support from any local authority in Scotland.
Under the previous system, people presenting as homeless to a council would be asked to show their local connection to the area.
If the local authority decided somebody did not have a connection, they could be referred to an area where they had a link. Connections included if somebody had lived or worked in the area or had family associations there.
The new legislation means councils will no longer be able to check for a local connection.
The aim is to help people integrate into a community and to reduce repeat homelessness, according to the Scottish government.
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The change was due to be introduced in the spring last year, but was delayed because of the pandemic, according to Homeless Network Scotland, the charity.
MSPs approved the Homelessness Persons (Suspension of Referrals between Local Authorities) (Scotland) Order 2022 earlier this month.
Alison Watson, director of Shelter Scotland, the charity, said: “This much-anticipated change is one that we have been long calling for, and is another milestone in securing progressive rights to housing.”
Ginny Cooper, change lead at Homeless Network Scotland, said: “Giving people the option to relocate will improve their opportunities to create new relationships within communities where they are able to thrive.”
Shona Robison, the Scottish housing secretary, said: “Local-connection requirements have been recognised as a barrier to accessing homelessness services, which is why we have chosen to remove them.”
The Scottish Housing Regulator (SHR) has revealed that its next annual risk assessment will focus on issues including homelessness and the quality of housing stock.
