This Action Plan sets out the direction for real and lasting change towards ending homelessness. Having somewhere to call home is a basic human right and housing is one of the most important factors in any person’s quality of life. This Plan sets out the wide range of measures needed to have in place that help prevent homelessness in the first place and ensure that when it does happen, the needs of people experiencing homelessness are addressed as quickly as possible to get back to a settled home.

Homelessness has a strong legislative footing in Scotland. Under the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987, with everybody found to be homeless legally entitled to housing. This means that if the Scottish government is to complete this ambition to end homelessness then no one would sleep rough and no one should live somewhere that is unsuitable for them.