Homelessness Statistics

Bi-annual update on Homelessness Statistics covering 1 April to 30 September 2019 have been released by Scotland’s Chief Statistician.

Findings for that period show:
• there were 18,645 applications for homelessness assistance - a decrease of 2% compared to the same 6 month period in 2018
• there were 18,725 assessments made and 83% were assessed as homeless or threatened as homeless
• of the 15,542 applications that were assessed as homeless, 4% were considered intentionally homeless
• the number of households and children in temporary accommodation have increased on a national level compared to the same period in 2018. As at 30 September 2019, there were 11,432 households and 7,252 children in temporary accommodation, an increase of 4% and 6% respectively compared to September 2018
• households spent an average of 178 days in temporary accommodation. The average for households with children was 212 days, higher than the 167 days for households without children
• twelve local authorities reported a breach of the Homelessness Persons (Unsuitable Accommodation) Order between October 2018 and September 2019. There were a total of 430 breaches over this period with 125 of these being in Edinburgh
• settled accommodation was secured for 10,070 unintentionally homeless households, this is 81% of cases where contact was maintained and the outcome was known

Background

Read the full statistical publication.

The Homelessness in Scotland: Bi-annual update 1 April to 30 September 2019 publication presents information on local authority homelessness applications, assessments and outcomes in the period from 1 April 2019 to 30 September 2019, and places it in the context of longer term trends. It also provides data on the number of households in temporary accommodation throughout the same period.

Official statistics are produced by professionally independent statistical staff – read more information on the standards of official statistics in Scotland.