Welfare Reform on the Web (October 2002): Homelessness - UK

ACT OF FAITH?

S Mckenzie, D Gilliver and J Sheehan

Housing, July/Aug 2002, p. 23-25

The Homelessness Act 2002 places a new duty on local authorities to carry out regular homelessness reviews and develop a strategy within one year. The Act also extends priority needs categories to include 16-17 year olds, 21 year old care leavers and people who are homeless as a result of violence. Local authorities will also have to provide temporary accommodation for those in priority need, until they are permanently settled. Advice and assistance should be tailored to individual needs. Article discusses the impact of the Act on the street homeless through a series of case studies.

COMMUNITY SELF-BUILD FOR YOUNG HOMELESS PEOPLE: PROBLEMS AND POTENTIAL

S Hutson and S Jones

Housing Studies, vol 17, 2002, p. 639-656

Community self-build projects are agency initiated, builders are unskilled and usually working for state benefits, and finished houses belong to a housing association. The paper outlines how housing regulations, state benefits and training structures hinder community self-build projects. These schemes are usually set up in deprived areas where the labour market is difficult, housing is often residualised and the young people likely to be recruited are already alienated from education and training.