Homelessness in Scotland: 2022-23

Main findings for 2022-23

• more new homeless applications and fewer closed cases have resulted in more open applications
  • there were 39,006 homelessness applications recorded in 2022-23. This is an increase of 9% compared to 2021-22 (35,759) and has surpassed 2019-20 (37,053)
  • there were 28,354 closed homelessness cases recorded in 2022-23. This is a decrease of 1% compared to 2021-22 (28,634)
  • there was a total of 29,652 open homelessness cases at 31 March 2023; an increase of 15% compared to 31 March 2022 (25,731)
• 32,242 households assessed as homeless or threatened with homelessness (intentional or unintentional)
  • 36,848 adults
  • 16,263 children
• decrease in homelessness from private rented tenancy following cost of living legislation introduced in October 2022
• rough sleeping. More households reporting rough sleeping, although still lower than pre pandemic. 1,500 the night before and 2,438 in the three months before the application (same proportion of applications as last year, 4% and 6% respectively)
• more households and children than ever in temporary accommodation (as at 31 March)
  • the number of households in temporary accommodation increased by 6% compared to last year
  • the number of children in temporary accommodation increased by 9% compared to last year
• average total time (days) spent in temporary accommodation is increasing (closed cases)
  • the average time for 2022-23 was 223 days, an increase of 9 days compared to 2021-22
• household with children spend, on average, the longest in temporary accommodation (days, both open and closed cases)
• outcomes. 83% of unintentionally homeless households secured settled accommodation
• average time (days) from assessment to case closure has increased greatly over time, from 41 days in 2002-03 when the time series began to 266 days in 2022-23.
• characteristics of households assessed as homeless or threatened with homelessness (intentional or unintentional);
  • 62% aged 25 to 49
  • 66% of households are single person, 29% contain children
  • 84% white ethnicity
  • 51% have at least one support need