Angus Council praised by Shelter Scotland for work on homelessness
Angus Council is on track to achieve Scotland's homelessness reforms.
- By Graeme Strachan
- Published in the Courier : 01.09.11
- Published online : 01.09.11 @ 12.29pm
Shelter Scotland has congratulated the council for the advances it has made.
The Scottish Government's latest homelessness statistics revealed Angus is on track to achieve the 2012 commitment to give every unintentionally homeless person in the area the right to a home.
Figures for the number of homeless people assessed as priority by the council are at 100%.
Shelter Scotland says the council has done extremely well to prepare for the 2012 reforms.
The reform to homelessness legislation will see an end to the system where only those deemed to be in "priority need" have the right to a home.
The Homelessness Act passed in 2003 effectively extends the right to a home to single homeless people and couples without children, who previously had few housing rights.
For the last eight years the 32 local authorities have been preparing for the changes, but the charity warns urgent action is needed before it is too late.
'Dedication'
The call comes as government homelessness statistics revealed:
- Six local authorities are well prepared for the reforms, including Angus.
- Ten councils are improving and on track.
- Eight have made some progress but have more to do to prepare.
- Five have shown some commitment but failed to sustain early progress.
- Three need to take urgent action to prepare.
Graeme Brown, director of Shelter Scotland, said: "We congratulate Angus Council for showing dedication to meeting the 2012 homelessness commitment.
"There are other local authorities across Scotland however, that are not achieving the same progress.
"We know times are tough and local authorities are under increasing pressure, but meeting the 2012 commitment is not a choice — it's a legislative requirement that cannot be shirked from."
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