| He described the new legislation as the most progressive in Europe which, coupled with a commitment to invest £150 million in the next three years to support initiatives to tackle rough sleepers and council’s homeless strategies, could eradicate homelessness by 2012.
The draft regulations will compel hostels to improve conditions and set out minimum rights and responsibilities of people living in hostels.
However, the legislation does not specifically specify behaviour that includes abusing drink and drugs, the latter of which has caused concern at the Cyrenians emergency hostel in Dundee’s Soapwork Lane in the past.
Ironically, the numbers of people designated as homeless has actually risen recently because of legislation that now gives the single homeless the right of temporary accommodation they previously lacked.
Mr Chisholm said it was important to increase the number of affordable homes, and councils were working with housing associations and the private sector to provide appropriate accommodation for homeless people.
He said, “Tackling homelessness is not an easy task, but we have the vision that by 2012 every homeless person will be offered a decent home with support if they need it. We have to provide more than bricks and mortar and that means investment in a range of accommodation and a huge range of support services.” |
