Transcript No Slide Title

Homelessness Prevention Works
Hal Pawson, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh
Questions for Discussion
• Is the ethos and practice of homelessness prevention consistent with
the spirit of the homelessness legislation?
• Has the homelessness prevention ethos undermined the supposed
‘independence’ of housing advice and, if so, does this matter?
• How sustainable are ‘prevention solutions’ such as family mediation?
• If ‘homelessness prevention’ is leading to growing numbers of
vulnerable households being rehoused in private tenancies should this
be a matter for concern? How could such placements be limited?
• How sustainable is a strategy of making greater use of the private
rented sector to accommodate homeless applicants when the PRS is
reportedly coming under greater strain due to immigration from EU
New Member States?
School of the Built Environment
Homelessness Prevention: Assessing the
Overall Impact
160,000
Ratio of avg house prices to avg incomes
Introduction of homelessness strategies
140,000
6
120,000
5
100,000
4
80,000
3
60,000
2
1
Affordability ratio (left hand scale)
40,000
Homelessness acceptances (right
hand scale)
20,000
0
0
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
School of the Built Environment
Households accepted as homeless & in priority need
7