With one year to go until Scotland’s historic homelessness legislation comes into force, local authorities must build on their achievements to date.

The 2012 commitment to give every unintentionally homeless person the right to a home must not be seen as an end point, but a beginning. Local authorities should strive to deliver the 2012 commitment and the best possible service to homeless people in their communities.

To help local authorities prepare their homelessness services for a post-2012 era, we are hosting a conference to address the challenges and solutions of the 2012 commitment and beyond.

Bringing together a host of national and international housing experts, including White House policy adviser on homelessness, Professor Dennis Culhane, Housing Minister Keith Brown and Michael Cameron, Chief Executive, Scottish Housing Regulator, the ‘Homelessness post- 2012: Where next?’ conference will take place on 7 February in Edinburgh.

The 2012 commitment has been the historic milestone for homelessness policy in Scotland for the last ten years and this major event is designed to help Scotland accelerate over the finishing line.

We know times are tough and local authorities are under increasing pressure, but meeting the 2012 commitment is not a choice, it’s a legislative requirement that cannot be shirked from.

It marks a new beginning for Scotland’s homelessness services where we hope all local authorities will strive to deliver the best possible service to homeless people in their communities.

Graeme Brown
Director, Shelter Scotland