Homelessness in Scotland: 2023-24

Main points for 2023-24

• Continued increase in new and open applications, but also in the number of closed cases
  • There were 40,685 homelessness applications recorded in 2023-24. This is an increase of 4% compared to 2022-23 (39,308)
  • There were 31,423 homelessness cases closed in 2023-24. This is an increase of 9% compared to 2022-23 (28,772)
  • There was a total of 31,870 open homelessness cases at 31 March 2024; an increase of 8% compared to 2023 (29,408)
• 33,619 households assessed as homeless
  • 38,075 adults
  • 15,474 children
• Households becoming homeless from a private rented tenancy has been reacting to legislation changes following COVID-19 and cost of living legislation
• The number of households reporting rough sleeping the night before application has increased from 1,493 to 1,916 and in the three months prior from 2,425 to 2,931
• Continued increases in temporary accommodation as at 31 March
  • The number of households in temporary accommodation was 16,300 in 2024; this increased by 9% compared to last year
  • The number of children in temporary accommodation increased by 5% compared to last year to 10,110 in 2024
• Households with children spend on average, the longest time in temporary accommodation
• 83% of unintentionally homeless households secured settled accommodation.
• Average time from assessment to case closure has increased greatly over time from 226 days in 2019-20 to 278 days in 2023-24
• Characteristics of households assessed as homeless or threatened with homelessness (intentional or unintentional):
  • 63% aged 25 to 49
  • 68% of households are single person, 26% contain children
  • 80% white ethnicity
  • 51% have at least one support need