Holyrood: Housing Bill Shows Promise but Lacks Details

A new Bill proposing a shift from crisis management to a preventative approach to homelessness in Scotland is under scrutiny by the Holyrood Committee, which has expressed concerns about the lack of detail in the proposed measures.

The Social Justice and Social Security Committee have been closely examining the homelessness and domestic violence aspects of the Housing (Scotland) Bill. While the committee supports the principles behind the Bill, they are seeking more clarity from the Scottish Government on how these measures will be implemented in practice.

One specific area of concern highlighted by the committee is the practicalities of the “ask and act” duty, which requires relevant public bodies to inquire about an individual’s housing situation and take steps to prevent homelessness. Understanding how this duty will be carried out in real-life scenarios is a key query for the committee.

In their report, the committee also raises concerns about the Bill’s costings as outlined in the Financial Memorandum and calls for an update in this regard.

Collette Stevenson MSP, the convener of the Social Justice and Social Security Committee, commented on the Bill saying, “Our committee supports the objective of this Bill, which aims to transition Scotland’s approach to homelessness from crisis intervention to prevention. However, we share the concerns raised by witnesses regarding the lack of specifics in the Scottish Government’s plans. We are particularly keen to see more detailed information about the implementation of the ‘ask and act’ duty.”

She also addressed concerns about the financial aspects of the Bill, stating, “We acknowledge the concerns raised about the Financial Memorandum and recommend that the Scottish Government engages with stakeholders again to update the costs appropriately before the Stage 1 debate on the Bill.”

The committee also expressed support for the proposals within the Bill aimed at assisting individuals affected by domestic abuse. Nonetheless, they are seeking further clarification on how these measures will align with other relevant policies and laws.

Of note is the Bill’s connection to the Domestic Abuse (Protection) (Scotland) Act 2021, which is not yet fully enforced. The committee is requesting a detailed plan and timeline from the government to confirm when the provisions in this Act will be put into effect.