Homelessness in Scotland: update to 30 September 2022

This statistics bulletin provides information on homelessness in Scotland in the six-month period from 1 April 2022 to 30 September 2022, alongside historical data.


Main findings: April to September 2022

Comparisons are with the corresponding periods in previous years

Infographic of the main findings

  • homelessness applications, open applications, and households in temporary accommodation have all increased and are now higher than pre-pandemic.
    • there were 28,944 open homelessness applications as at 30 September 2022
    • this is an increase of 11% from last year and highest since the data collection began in 2002
    • there were 19,066 homelessness applications recorded in the period April to September 2022
    • this is an increase of 6% from last year, and slightly higher than pre-pandemic figures
    • there were 14,458 households in temporary accommodation as at 30 September 2022, an increase of 1% compared to last year
    • there were 9,130 children in temporary accommodation as at 30 September 2022, an increase of 10% compared to last year
  • households becoming homeless from a private rented tenancy has increased and is now higher than pre-pandemic
    • 19% of households became homeless from private rented tenancies in the period April to September 2022, an increase from 14% last year
  • the number of people reporting rough sleeping prior to making a homelessness application have increased in line with the increase in homelessness applications
    • 1,184 applicants reported rough sleeping during the three months prior to their application (6% of all applications)
    • 733 applicants reported rough sleeping the night before (4% of all applications)
  • 83% of unintentionally homeless households secured settled accommodation in the period April to September 2022, the same as last year
  • households assessed as homeless or threatened with homelessness (intentional or unintentional) in the period April to September 2022 consisted of:
    • 64% single person households
    • 30% households containing children
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