Homelessness Policy and Procedure

The overall aim of the policy is to take preventative action whenever possible to reduce the number of people becoming homeless in South Ayrshire. When a homeless situation is inevitable, the aim is to assess the application sympathetically and thoroughly, and where possible, provide appropriate accommodation at the earliest opportunity.
The policy is based on a number of fundamental principals.
It is firmly in line with the relevant legal requirements, (i.e. the 1987 Act, 2001 Act and 2003 Act) and also that it is consistent with good practice guidelines contained in the Code of Guidance.
To endeavour to prevent the occurrence of homelessness.
Service delivery aims to be sensitive to the needs of all individual applicants by taking into account their own specific circumstances.
Service will then be delivered in line with objective targets that enable service provision to be monitored and evaluated thus, achieving public accountability.
The Council is committed to forging active partnerships with all housing providers in order to tackle homelessness throughout South Ayrshire.
The Homeless Policy will contribute to continuous improvement of homelessness services and will be monitored in line with the Council's Best Value Policy.

The objectives of the policy are:-

To ensure there are sufficient well trained staff to carry out sympathetic but thorough interviews.
To ensure a consistent approach to the investigation and determination of an applicant's priority status.
To ensure there is sufficient temporary accommodation and emergency accommodation to move away from the requirement to use bed and breakfast accommodation.
To make an offer of permanent accommodation to a qualifying homeless applicant at the earliest opportunity
To work with other agencies to form partnerships to meet identified needs in the community.
To provide all homeless applicants with information and advice on their right of appeal and the operation of the appeals process
To provide comprehensive advice and information to homeless households or to those threatened with homelessness.
To provide high quality temporary accommodation.
To provide appropriate and sustainable permanent accommodation to homeless households to whom the Council has a statutory duty to re-house.