AN “ambitious” new plan to tackle homelessness could make Scotland a “world leader”, it is claimed.

Crisis charity chief executive Jon Sparkes spoke out yesterday as Communities Secretary Aileen Campbell unveiled a blueprint to end homelessness.

Based on 70 recommendations from the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Action Group, it aims to help people into long-term housing more quickly, focus on preventing people from losing accommodation in the first place and provide a “person-centred approach” to meet the needs of each individual.

Visiting the Cyrenians homelessness charity, Campbell said: “Everyone needs a safe, warm place to call home. It’s more than a place to live it’s where we feel secure, have roots and a sense of belonging. The causes of homelessness can be complex and that’s why all services need to be joined up. Working together, we can end homelessness for good.”

The Scottish Government has already committed £50 million to its Ending Homelessness Together Fund.

Yesterday the Chartered Institute of Housing called on Holyrood to increase the housing supply to aid rapid rehousing.

Meanwhile, Scottish Greens co-convener Patrick Harvie MSP said ministers should review “inadequate” laws on renting that allow evictions “including when they have done absolutely nothing wrong and should not find themselves losing their homes”.

However, Sparkes said: “This is an ambitious plan that firmly positions Scotland as a world-leader in ending homelessness.

“This plan presents us with a chance to get behind bold and transformative reforms, and see Scotland lead the way once again.

“It is a unique opportunity to get policies and services right for homeless people, but also to look beyond homelessness into the wider systemic issues of inequality and poverty to bring an end to the injustice of homelessness in Scotland once and for all.”