This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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New regulations for homeless hostels
29/12/2004
The Executive has published draft regulations for homeless hostels to improve conditions and set out minimum rights and responsibilities of people living in hostels and other forms of temporary accommodation.
Ministers have also confirmed continuing investment of over £150 million in the next three years to tackle homelessness.
The money will be used to support initiatives to tackle rough sleepers and councils' implementation of their homelessness strategies.
Councils are working with housing associations and the private sector to provide more appropriate accommodation for homeless people and to ensure that a wide range of support is available to people at risk of homelessness to help them settle in to new accommodation.
At a Cyrenians hostel in Dundee today, Communities Minister Malcolm Chisholm said:
"Homelessness can happen to anyone, and it's not just a housing problem. Many people who get into this situation require support to address drug or alcohol problems or mental health issues, others need family support or assistance in accessing employment. With the right support, homeless people can turn their lives around.
"Tackling Scotland's homeless problem 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 do more than provide bricks and mortar.
"That means investment in a range of different types of accommodation and a huge range of support services for those who need help.
"Alongside our significant and sustained investment of over £150 million, we also want to make sure that people living in hostels and temporary accommodation have minimum rights and that accommodation providers have a clear framework within which to support people who are often very vulnerable."
The types of accommodation covered by the draft regulations are:
- temporary accommodation provided under homelessness legislation
- women's refuges
- accommodation for ex-offenders
- hostels
The regulations will ensure basic standards of accommodation and regulate access to the accommodation, notice periods, access to mail, receipt of visitors and access to advice and information.
The regulations also set out standards relating to the behaviour expected of residents.