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Local Government and Communities Committee 10 February 2021

10 Feb 2021 · S5 · Local Government and Communities Committee

Item of business

Subordinate Legislation

Homeless Persons (Unsuitable Accommodation) (Scotland) (Modification and Revocation) (Coronavirus) Order 2021 (SSI 2021/10)

Stewart, Kevin SNP Aberdeen Central Watch on SPTV

I thank the committee for the opportunity to outline the work that led to the laying of the order. It is clear from the First Minister’s daily updates that the Covid-19 pandemic is far from over. A variant strain of the virus has recently moved quickly through Scotland and caused a sharp rise in cases, which has considerably increased the threat to public health. Lockdowns in response to the pandemic have had a significant impact on the availability of temporary and settled accommodation. Restrictions on local authorities and registered social landlords have resulted in a slower turnover of void properties and fewer allocations, which are not back to normal levels. With that in mind, I agreed to further extend the temporary coronavirus exemptions in the Homeless Persons (Unsuitable Accommodation) (Scotland) Order 2014. Members will see from the letter of 22 January from the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities to the committee that the decision was reached with the full support of local authorities, which have worked tirelessly since last March to keep people safe and supported and to provide them with somewhere warm to live in this public health crisis. Since the 2014 order was extended to all homeless households in May, we have worked in partnership with local authorities. Their intelligence, alongside data that has been collated by the Scottish Housing Regulator, has shown that although voids are now being turned over and allocations to homeless households are being prioritised, the impact of the additional pressures on the system continues to be felt. The result is that some councils would not have been in a position to cease using emergency provision in hotels and bed and breakfasts by January. That includes councils that did not use bed and breakfasts before the pandemic. The decision to extend the exceptions until 30 June 2021 was made to take account of the enormous impact that we all face and of the impact that the on-going pandemic is having on the housing system and on councils. The extension will keep people safe from the pandemic and keep people off the streets, so that we know where they are. It will allow wider support to be provided, which includes setting up pathways to settled accommodation. I make it absolutely clear that I am committed to reducing the number of people who stay in all forms of temporary accommodation, which we are doing through rapid rehousing and through improving housing quality. That is why I extended the order’s scope in May 2020 and created legislation to respond to the pandemic. I made it clear that, when it was possible, we would not just return to our previous homelessness system. Guidance on the order was published on 31 January 2021 to help local authorities to set parameters and ensure that the correct structure to aid recovery is in place. Local authorities will build on their rapid rehousing transition plans and exit strategies, which are part of the framework to deliver homelessness services and ensure that no homeless group is disadvantaged as a result. I hope that the committee will recognise the efforts that are being made and will, accordingly, not vote to annul the instrument.

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Local Government and Communities Committee 10 February 2021

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