Homelessness
Homelessness legislation is concerned with the right of the individual to an abode. Often people find themselves homeless through no real fault of their own - the youngster who has been thrown out by a relative, the tenant who is evicted by their landlord's bank, someone fleeing violence or persecution etc. In such cases it is possible to apply to the local authority to be housed within your local area. Not everyone will qualify, as certain criteria apply - actual homeless/threat of homelessness; local connection; vulnerability; lack of fault. However, someone in a homeless situation may well benefit from the services of LSA's Court Department. Our team of seven lawyers and one paralegal can advise people on making the initial application to the council, or we can assist them in applying for a review of a negative decision, or we may sometimes be able to appeal against a negative decision to the Court of Session (Scotland's most supreme civil court) by a procedure known as Judicial Review.
Homeless legislation is currently a hot topic for the government, who have committed themselves to a major programme of reforms between now and 2012 with a view to reducing the numbers of people facing homelessness. LSA leads the way in representing clients in this area in accordance with the latest development in the law.