25 Years of Devolution and a (dis)United Kingdom Homelessness Policy

Bevan, Chris; Serpa, Regina; Gray, Paddy

Abstract

This chapter explores the development of homelessness law and policy in the four nations of the United Kingdom. Chris Bevan, Regina Serpa and Paddy Gray reflect on how the different nations of the United Kingdom have responded to the homelessness problem with varying approaches and degrees of success. The chapter traces the strategies, legislation, and political action in England before turning to consider what has been achieved in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland through 25 years of devolution, in a bid to illuminate the similarities and divergencies across the United Kingdom. In so doing, the chapter reveals how devolution across the country has resulted in fascinating divergences in the approach taken across the country to homelessness policy and, ultimately, has produced what might be termed a dis-United Kingdom homelessness policy.

Citation

Bevan, C., Serpa, R., & Gray, P. (2024). 25 Years of Devolution and a (dis)United Kingdom Homelessness Policy. In C. Bevan (Ed.), Routledge Handbook of Global Perspectives on Homelessness, Law & Policy. London: Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003274056-3

• Online Publication Date: Jun 6, 2024
• Publication Date: Jun 6, 2024
• Deposit Date: Mar 20, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Dec 7, 2025
• Publisher: Routledge
• Book Title: Routledge Handbook of Global Perspectives on Homelessness, Law & Policy
• Chapter Number: 1
• ISBN: 9781032227009
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003274056-3
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/2333273
• Publisher URL: https://www.routledge.com/The-Routledge-Handbook-of-Global-Perspectives-on-Homelessness-Law--Policy/Bevan/p/book/9781032227009
• Contract Date: Feb 1, 2024