Policy
Recent policy has made reference to the importance of addressing the employability needs of homeless people. The Housing Scotland Act ( 2001) required local authorities to write homelessness strategies that took account of employability, and both the Code of Guidance in May 2009, and the Prevention of Homelessness Guidance in June, 2009 mention employability agencies and employment as being important parts of the bigger picture in tackling and preventing homelessness. There is, however, for example, still no statutory duty to record the employability needs of people presenting as homeless, and no tracking systems to measure the employability route to employment.
The introduction of Employment Support Allowance as a replacement for Incapacity Benefit has not been without controversy, with high numbers of people being found fit to work under the Work Capability Assessment, and subsequently having to (often successfully) appeal the decision or meet the conditions set. The full impact of this process is yet to be seen but it is likely to have penetrating effect on the relation of homeless people to the labour market, and their perception of it unless it is managed in a constructive and responsible way. Crisis have previously reported that an estimated 70% of homeless people were in receipt of Incapacity Benefit, and, therefore, subject to the increased conditionality of the change to ESA. Given the health issues that can be caused by or exacerbated by homelessness fair and accurate assessment of realistic abilities must remain a priority.
People who have experienced homelessness and are housed in temporary or supported accommodation can find that accommodation costs in relation to Housing Benefit levels militate against taking up employment, training or education opportunities. Given that high numbers can be in temporary accommodation for significant periods of time, this can impact upon both the actual and perceived ability of homeless people to progress in their journey towards work. Housing Benefit changes have and will continue to impact, with changes to Local Housing Allowance, the shared accommodation rate rules, and over occupation caps all affecting the journey to work.
The introduction of The Work Programme with its emphasis on increased conditionality, payment on an outcome basis and focus on moving people into sustainable employment may prove to be a positive vehicle offering previously unavailable tailored support, although many of those working with people who are homeless fear that those furthest from the labour market will be further excluded from the system as a result of not being financially viable in terms of easily sustainable outcomes. Homeless people with all the complexity of associated issues are arguably amongst those most vulnerable to the impact of welfare reform.