Evaluation of the Local Authority Housing Hubs Approach

Ipsos Scotland, in collaboration with Mandy Littlewood Social Research and Consulting, was commissioned by the Scottish Government to carry out a process evaluation of the local authority hubs approach set up to help local authorities develop and share best practice around housing options. The evaluation had two objectives:

• to explore how well these arrangements are working to prevent homelessness and deliver the 2012 homelessness target, and
• to identify and examine what has been working well in order to develop, promote and share good practice.

The report and associated research findings, and best practice guide can be found on the Scottish Government website.

The evaluation was conducted primarily through qualitative research with all Hub members and a sample of local authority Heads of Service. The evaluation also comprised analysis of the type of contact Hubs had through the Communities of Practice website (a tool set up to encourage the sharing of information across Hubs), and secondary data analysis of national Homelessness data.