Housing (Scotland) Act 2001

1 Homelessness strategies

(1) Every local authority must, when required to do so by the Scottish Ministers—

(a) carry out an assessment of homelessness in its area, and

(b) prepare and submit to the Scottish Ministers a strategy for preventing and alleviating homelessness in its area (a “homelessness strategy”).

(2) A requirement under subsection (1) may make provision as to—

(a) the particular matters to be assessed under subsection (1)(a),

(b) the time by which the strategy is to be submitted to the Scottish Ministers,

(c) the form of the strategy and the matters which it is to include,

(d) the period to which the strategy is to relate.

(3) The Scottish Ministers may issue guidance, either to local authorities generally or to a particular authority, as to the form and content of an assessment and of a homelessness strategy and as to consultation on a proposed strategy.

(4) Without prejudice to subsections (2) and (3), a homelessness strategy must state how the local authority is to comply with its duty under section 106 so far as relating to the matters included in the strategy.

(5) A local authority must provide a copy of its homelessness strategy to any person who requests it.

(6) A local authority—

(a) may, from time to time, and

(b) must, if required to do so by the Scottish Ministers,

review its homelessness strategy and prepare and submit to the Scottish Ministers a revised homelessness strategy.