Homelessness in Scotland: 2023-24

Outcomes

Key points in 2023-24

• The number of homelessness cases closed increased by 9%
• 83% of unintentionally homeless households secured settled accommodation, the same as last year

Homelessness cases are closed once the local authority has fulfilled its statutory duty or contact has been lost with the applicant household for 28 days. Local authorities provide information on the circumstances and outcomes of homelessness cases once they have been closed.

Number of cases closed

Overall, 31,423 cases for homeless households were closed in 2023-24, an increase of 9% compared to 2022-23.

How often do local authorities lose contact with applicants?

For homeless households with cases that closed in 2023-24, contact was maintained for 92% of those assessed as unintentionally homeless and for 88% assessed as intentionally homeless.

The proportion of households maintaining contact has increased over time for unintentionally homeless households, from 81% in 2007-08. For intentionally homeless households, the proportion has remained more stable, particularly in recent years where this has been between 87% and 88% since 2018-19.

What are the outcomes for homeless households?

Of the 27,560 unintentionally homeless cases that closed in 2023-24 (where contact was maintained and the outcome was known), 83% (22,748) secured settled accommodation.

Settled accommodation is defined as a local authority tenancy, a tenancy with a registered social landlord or a private rented tenancy.

Unintentionally homeless households saw an increase in the number with an outcome of local authority or social registered landlord (each with an increase of 7%), while there was a slight decrease (1%) in the number securing a private rented tenancy.

Chart 13: More households securing settled accommodation

Households securing settled accommodation by accommodation type: 2022-23 to 2023-24

The proportion of unintentionally homeless households securing settled accommodation has increased over time, from 64% in 2002-03 to 83% in 2023-24.

Intentionally homeless households are less likely to secure settled accommodation due to there being no statutory duty to provide settled accommodation for these households. In 2023-24, 39% of intentionally homeless households secured settled accommodation. To note, these are based on relatively small numbers (which have decreased as a result of changes in intentionality legislation) and are therefore particularly susceptible to natural fluctuation.

Is there a return to homelessness?

In order to understand the longer-term outcomes for homeless households, and whether outcomes upon case closure are sustained, there is an interest in ‘repeat homelessness’. This is defined as household previously assessed as homeless re-entering the homelessness system at a later point in time.

There were 1,311 households (4%) that had previously been assessed as homeless in the 12 months prior to their most recent assessments and 3,905 (12%) in the previous 5 years. Note that these are cumulative.

Were housing support assessments carried out?

Upon closing a homelessness case, local authorities are required to assess whether any housing support services are required by the household for any cases assessed as unintentionally homeless and where it has reason to believe that support would be beneficial. It also has a duty to provide that support if needed.

Across Scotland, assessments for housing support needs were carried out in 77% of cases where there was a duty to assess in 2023-24. In 22% of cases where there was a duty to assess, no assessment took place, and no support was provided. Housing support was provided in 38% of all cases. Support was not provided for 5% of cases where a support need was identified.