A report examined homelessness trends in Scotland. In sharp contrast to the rising trend in England, statutory homelessness applications had dropped by 19 per cent in Scotland in 2011-12. This decline in statutory homelessness was associated with targeted homelessness policy and administrative measures including changes in recording practices in some areas rather than reflecting any easing in the underlying drivers of acute housing need.
Source: Suzanne Fitzpatrick, Hal Pawson, Glen Bramley, and Steve Wilcox, The Homelessness Monitor: Scotland 2012, Crisis
Links: Report | Summary | Crisis press release
Date: 2012-Dec
The Scottish Parliament approved a measure abolishing the 'priority need test' for the provision of housing to homeless people. From 31 December 2012 all local councils would have to provide settled accommodation to anyone who was unintentionally homelessness. The measure was estimated to give around 3,000 more people each year the right to settled accommodation.
Source: Homelessness (Abolition of Priority Need Test) (Scotland) Order 2012, Scottish Government, TSO
Links: Order | Scottish Government press release | BBC report
Date: 2012-Nov
A report by a committee of MSPs said that homeless young people in Scotland were being failed by a lack of support in overcoming inadequate life skills, compounded by sub-standard accommodation and isolation.
Source: Having and Keeping a Home: Steps to preventing homelessness among young people, 4th Report 2012, SP Paper 191, Scottish Parliament Equal Opportunities Committee
Links: Report | Scottish Parliament press release | CAS press release | BBC report | Inside Housing report
Date: 2012-Oct
A briefing paper examined the challenges of developing and managing mixed-tenure housing in Scotland. Funding concerns were casting a question mark over the sector's capacity to develop mixed-tenure housing, along with the Scottish Government's relaxation of 'planning gain' requirements.
Source: Nicola Clarke, The Challenges of Developing and Managing Mixed Tenure Housing, Chartered Institute of Housing in Scotland
Links: Paper
Date: 2012-Oct
An article estimated the impact of population ageing on house prices in Scotland. It was found that population ageing – or more generally changes in age structure – was not likely to be a main determinant of house prices.
Source: Yu Chen, Kenneth Gibb, Chris Leishman, and Robert Wright, 'The impact of population ageing on house prices: a micro-simulation approach', Scottish Journal of Political Economy, Volume 59 Issue 5
Links: Abstract
Date: 2012-Oct
A report said that working-age tenants of housing associations and housing co-operatives in Scotland would lose between £123 million and £228 million by 2017 as a result of the coalition government 'reforms' to social security benefits. Tenants would lose around £33.5 million annually in housing benefit alone.
Source: The Impact of Welfare Reform on Housing Associations and Housing Co-operatives in Scotland, Scottish Federation of Housing Associations
Links: Report | SFHA press release
Date: 2012-Aug
The Scottish Government began consultation on proposals to further restrict the 'right to buy' housing policy. The proposed changes would cut the discounts available to those who wished to purchase their home through right to buy. They would also place greater restrictions on where it would be available – for example, in areas where housing was under particular pressure.
Source: The Future of Right to Buy in Scotland, Scottish Government
Links: Consultation document | Scottish Government press release | SFHA press release | Inside Housing report
Date: 2012-Jun
A report analyzed responses to a consultation on housing support for homeless households in Scotland. Almost all housing associations who responded to the consultation were in favour of Scottish Ministers establishing regulations for housing support and provision.
Source: Reid Howie Associates, Housing Support for Homeless Households: Analysis of Consultation Findings, Scottish Government
Date: 2012-Jun
An article examined approaches to meeting the healthcare needs of homeless people, drawing on research in Norway and Scotland. The challenge was to recognize the need for a process approach that supported an effective transition from the (sometimes necessary) use of specialist services for this group, towards full integration into mainstream healthcare.
Source: Isobel Anderson and Siri Ytrehus, 'Re-conceptualising approaches to meeting the health needs of homeless people', Journal of Social Policy, Volume 41 Issue 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2012-May
The Scottish Government published a charter setting down the standards and outcomes that all social landlords should aim to achieve when performing their housing activities.
Source: The Scottish Social Housing Charter, Scottish Government
Links: Charter
Date: 2012-Mar
A paper examined the scope for, and implications of, devolving United Kingdom-reserved housing benefit to Scotland.
Source: Kenneth Gibb and Mark Stephens, Devolving Housing Benefit: A discussion paper, Chartered Institute of Housing in Scotland/Scottish Federation of Housing Associations
Links: Paper | CIH press release | SFHA press release
Date: 2012-Mar
A report by a committee of MSPs said that 'significant advances' had been made in how homelessness was tackled in Scotland, following legislation that created a commitment entitling all unintentionally homeless people to settled accommodation by the end of 2012.
Source: Homelessness in Scotland: The 2012 Commitment, 2nd Report 2012, SP Paper 97, Scottish Parliament Infrastructure and Capital Investment Committee
Links: Report | Scottish Parliament press release
Date: 2012-Mar
The Scottish Government began consultation on proposals to give local councils and housing associations greater flexibility over housing allocations (by taking into account any property that applicants owned as well as their income); and more tools to tackle anti-social behaviour.
Source: Affordable Rented Housing: Creating flexibility for landlords and better outcomes for communities, Scottish Government
Links: Consultation document | Scottish Government press release | Inside Housing report
Date: 2012-Feb
An article examined the impacts of living in high-rise housing in Glasgow compared with other dwelling types. Many outcomes were worse for people in high-rise housing, especially related to noise and security issues. Social and psychosocial outcomes were also often worse – particularly frequency of contact with neighbours and a number of aspects of control and recuperation at home. The negative impacts of high-rise living were most wide-ranging among adult-only households rather than families, with older persons least affected.
Source: Ade Kearns, Elise Whitley, Phil Mason, and Lyndal Bond, '"Living the high life"? Residential, social and psychosocial outcomes for high-rise occupants in a deprived context', Housing Studies, Volume 27 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2012-Jan