PUBLIC organisations could be given a legal duty to prevent homelessness under plans unveiled by the Scottish government today.

Scotland’s health service, police and children’s organisations would be among the bodies required to identify people at risk of becoming homeless and to either take action themselves or refer the person to get help.

The government has launched a consultation on the proposals, which are aimed at getting public bodies to intervene at an earlier stage to prevent the “traumatic and unsettling experience” of homelessness.