Homeless Persons (Unsuitable Accommodation) (Scotland) Order 2020 amendment: EQIA

Eliminating unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation

x

The policy development is primarily to eliminate the current distinction where a 7 day restriction on the time spent in unsuitable accommodation only applies to pregnant women and families with children who are homeless. Opening the restriction from this cohort to all homeless households will mean that the age profile will change from the current UAO focus on younger people who are specifically targeted as a priority group under the 2014 Order.

Advancing equality of opportunity

x

This policy development aims to offer equal opportunity to all people presenting as homeless and opens the 7 day restriction up to all. An exemption to the order has been included for community hosting. This model is used more frequently at the moment for young, single people, however, the Scottish Government wishes to see this model being used, where it is appropriate to do so, for a wider age demographic.

Promoting good relations among and between different age groups

x

The policy is not intended or expected to directly or indirectly impact on the interactions among and between different age groups.

Eliminating unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation

x

This policy development aims to eliminate discrimination as it will open the 7 day restriction of time spent in unsuitable accommodation to all persons experiencing homelessness.

Advancing equality of opportunity

x

This policy development aims to offer equal opportunity to all people presenting as homeless and opens the 7 day restriction up to all. An exemption does exist for supported accommodation, some of the users of which are those with physical disabilities and learning difficulties, however the policy aims to ensure that there is equality of access to suitable temporary and supported accommodation for all.

Promoting good relations among and between disabled and non-disabled people

x

The policy is not intended or expected to directly or indirectly impact on the interactions among and between people with and without disabilities.

Eliminating unlawful discrimination

x

This policy development aims to eliminate discrimination as it will open the 7 day restriction of time spent in unsuitable accommodation to all persons experiencing homelessness.

Men and women do experience homelessness in different ways, including the reasons for becoming homeless in the first place.

For female main applicants, the most common reason for making a homelessness application is a violent or abusive dispute within the household, this accounts for 22% of all applications from female main applicants and compares to 5% of applications from male main applicants. This amendment to the Order retains an exemption for refuges, allowing women the ability to flee from domestic violence as a top priority.

The statistics show that the current UAO positively discriminates in favour of women, which is expected as the current Order deliberately prioritises pregnant women. Additionally, placements of single mothers with children are common than placements with single fathers.

The data also shows us that single males are more likely to be placed in B&Bs or hostels than any other group and men are most likely to be sleeping rough. An exemption is included to the Order for rapid access accommodation where the priority is to get the rough sleeper off the street and help provide support.

Advancing equality of opportunity

x

This policy development aims to offer equal opportunity to all people presenting as homeless and opens the 7 day restriction up to all.

Promoting good relations between men and women

x

The policy is not intended or expected to directly or indirectly impact on the interactions among and between different genders.

Eliminating unlawful discrimination

x

This policy development aims to offer equal opportunity to all people presenting as homeless and opens the 7 day restriction up to all. This may remove the former positive discrimination that only applied to women who are pregnant and families with children under the current UAO.

Advancing equality of opportunity

x

This policy development aims to offer equal opportunity to all people presenting as homeless and opens the 7 day restriction up to all, which currently already applies to women who are pregnant and families with children.

Promoting good relations

x

The policy is not intended or expected to directly or indirectly impact on the interactions among and between people with different pregnancy or maternity statuses.

Eliminating unlawful discrimination

x

This policy development aims to eliminate discrimination as it will open the 7 day restriction of time spent in unsuitable accommodation to all persons experiencing homelessness.

Advancing equality of opportunity

x

This policy development aims to offer equal opportunity to all people presenting as homeless and opens the 7 day restriction up to all.

Promoting good relations

x

The policy is not intended or expected to directly or indirectly impact on the interactions among and between cisgender and transgender people.

Eliminating unlawful discrimination

x

This policy development aims to eliminate discrimination as it will open the 7 day restriction of time spent in unsuitable accommodation to all persons experiencing homelessness.

Advancing equality of opportunity

x

This policy development aims to offer equal opportunity to all people presenting as homeless and opens the 7 day restriction up to all.

Promoting good relations

x

The policy is not intended or expected to directly or indirectly impact on the interactions among and between people with different sexual orientations.

Eliminating unlawful discrimination

x

This policy development aims to eliminate discrimination as it will open the 7 day restriction of time spent in unsuitable accommodation to all persons experiencing homelessness, regardless of race.

During 2018/19, 88% of main applicants were of White ethnicity (76% were of White Scottish ethnicity). By comparison 95% of the Scottish population are of white ethnicity (77% White Scottish)

Under the current UAO, the data shows that the highest percentage of people staying in unsuitable accommodation identifies as white ethnicity and making up 74% of all those placed in unsuitable accommodation for more than 7 days.

Advancing equality of opportunity

x

This policy development aims to offer equal opportunity to all people presenting as homeless and opens the 7 day restriction up to all.

Promoting good race relations

x

The policy is not intended or expected to directly or indirectly impact on the interactions among and between different ethnicities.

Eliminating unlawful discrimination

x

This policy development aims to eliminate discrimination as it will open the 7 day restriction of time spent in unsuitable accommodation to all persons experiencing homelessness.

Advancing equality of opportunity

x

This policy development aims to offer equal opportunity to all people presenting as homeless and opens the 7 day restriction up to all.

Promoting good relations

x

The policy is not intended or expected to directly or indirectly impact on the interactions among and between people with different religions and beliefs.

Eliminating unlawful discrimination

x

This policy development aims to eliminate discrimination as it offer equal opportunity to all people presenting as homeless and opens the 7 day restriction of time spent in unsuitable accommodation to all.