Homelessness in Scotland: update to 30 September 2023

Outcomes

Key Points

• 82% of unintentionally homeless cases secured settled accommodation as an outcome. This compares to 84% in 2022

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.

Cases closed

Over the six-month period in 2023, there were 15,220 applications closed that had been assessed as unintentionally homeless. This is an increase of 10% compared to 2022.

Lost contact

Contact was maintained for most households assessed as unintentionally homeless (96%, the same as last year) and intentionally homeless (93%, also the same as last year, although bearing in mind these are based on relatively small numbers).

Outcomes

Of the 13,730 unintentionally homeless cases that closed in the six-month period (where contact was maintained and the outcome known), 82% secured settled accommodation. This is slightly lower than 84% in 2022.

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

Local authority tenancy and registered social landlord accommodation account for the vast majority of outcomes for homeless households

Chart 8: Outcomes for households assessed as unintentionally homeless or threatened with homelessness, April to September 2023

The proportion of intentionally homeless households securing settled accommodation increased from 38% to 49%.  However, these are based on relatively small numbers and are therefore particularly susceptible to natural fluctuation.

Housing support assessments

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 between April and September 2023. Support was provided for 39% of all cases, although support was not provided for 5% who were identified as needing it. In 22% of cases where there was a duty to assess, no assessment took place and no support was provided.