The Committee is looking at homelessness in Scotland. This is part of the Committee’s commitment to investigate the key themes in its remit. This will help the Committee develop its priorities for work throughout this session.

During the COVID-19 pandemic changes were made to ensure people had safe accommodation. Local authorities worked together with the third sector and Scottish Government to house people in need. The Committee are keen to see progress on this is maintained.

The Committee's first meeting on homelessness was held on 4 November 2021. The meeting saw the Committee hear from stakeholders. It touched on subjects including:

• the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on homelessness and rough sleeping
• the complex needs and circumstances of many people who experience homelessness
• funding to support local authorities tackle homelessness
• long-term challenges implementing change
• homelessness prevention
• problems around children living in temporary accommodation

The Committee held a further evidence session on homelessness in February 2022. In this session the Committee sought to understand:

• why more households were living in temporary accommodation
• what the Government and councils were doing to address the problem
• what housing stock was available
• how to prevent homelessness
• how to support people who are homeless

In early February 2024 the Committee held an evidence session on temporary accommodation looking at why: 

• households were living in temporary accommodation
• stock management, new housing supply and budgets
• homelessness prevention and support

In late February 2024 the Committee held a further evidence session on the impact of housing and homelessness of asylum seekers and refugees. The Committee wanted to understand:

• the impact of the current asylum system on individuals and families  
• the impact of the current approach on council statutory homelessness services  
• the impact of the current approach on the third sector
• what additional support the UK and Scottish Governments could provide

In June 2024 the Committee started its scrutiny of the homelessness prevention and domestic abuse provisions of the Housing (Scotland) Bill.

The Committee will continue to investigate this issue.