The campaign

Time up for eviction

As the 2012 homelessness target approaches, we must incorporate avoidance of needless eviction into homelessness prevention plans.

Councils need to consider alternatives to eviction to obtain rent arrears (the most common cause for eviction), such as:

  • benefit deduction
  • earnings arrestment
  • account arrestment
  • small claims actions, which cost far less in court than eviction actions.

For more information, please read Shelter's report here.

The 2012 target

Homelessness can be caused by a lot different things; losing your job, breaking up with your partner, moving to a new area away from friends and family who can support you, or problems getting housing benefit.

It becomes part of a downward spiral that causes problems, thwarts ambition and undermines potential.

Young people, aged between 18 and 24, are more likely than any other group to struggle with homelessness. This doesn't have to mean they are sleeping on the streets, it could be that they can't move out of their parents' home, or have to stay on a friend's sofa for a while before getting a place of their own.

The Scottish Government has already shown it is committed to ending this; laws passed in 2003 state that every homeless person will have the right to a permanent home by 2012. It's the most forward-thinking homelessness legislation in western Europe, and makes Scotland an example for the rest of the world to follow.

That target still stands, and we're fighting to make sure it's met.

We believe everyone should have a home. We want to see Scotland lead the world by giving everyone the best chance of a decent start in life by making sure they have a decent home to live in. To make sure this happens, we need your help. The more people who join our campaign, the more Scotland's politicians will sit up and listen to what we say.

Shelter's website has more information on homelessness in Scotland and advice if you're struggling to find or keep a decent home.