The report is as much about changing attitudes and practices as it is about changing the law.

Robert Aldridge SCSH

"Homelessness in all its forms is an affront to social justice," he declared.

"The Scottish Executive believes everyone in Scotland should have a decent, secure home and this report gives us a blueprint for preventing and tackling homelessness over the next 10 years.

"We must prevent homelessness occurring - avoiding significant amounts of human misery, in some cases saving lives."

Homelessness Bill

The Scottish Cabinet, meeting on Wednesday, agreed to bring forward legislation to put the homelessness drive on the statute book.

A spokesman said: "A homelessness Bill will be brought before Parliament this year."

The Homelessness Task Force was set up three years ago and has involved public and voluntary agencies including the Scottish Executive and the Scottish Council for Single Homeless (SCSH).

The Big Issue was involved in the task force

SCSH director Robert Aldridge said: "The report is as much about changing attitudes and practices as it is about changing the law.

"But it also recognises that to tackle homelessness effectively, we need an improved supply of affordable, good quality housing in places where people want to live."

The Scottish National Party's justice spokesman Kenny Gibson said the Labour Government had presided over a 40% rise in homelessness since it came to power in 1997.

He called the report a "damning indictment" of the executive's failure to tackle homelessness.

'True extent'

The Glasgow Housing Association said it backed the commitment made by the executive.

The task force was charged with reviewing the causes and nature of homelessness in Scotland and its report is expected to highlight the true extent of the problem.

The group was also asked to examine current practice in dealing with cases of homelessness and how it can best be prevented.