Improvement must be a mutual endeavour

So instead of the old philosophy, that demanded attention to all the pathologies that afflict those living on the streets, such as mental health, and drug and alcohol misuse, before individuals could be considered "housing ready", the new idea is to start with the provision of low-cost rented accommodation. This would then be followed by personalised support to address the other problematic aspects of their lives.

This is not a new idea. New Labour's New Deal for Young People initiative was all about getting young people ready for the labour market through participation in four options providing training in basic skills and work experience. For those long-term unemployed young people considered not yet ready for the various "options" available (there was no fifth option of remaining unemployed), they were expected to participate in a 13-week Gateway programme to tackle things like mental health and drug misuse. In other words, there were stepping stones required even prior to becoming "option ready".