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Publication - Statistics

Homelessness in Scotland: update to 30 September 2024

Published
5 February 2025
Directorate
Tackling Child Poverty and Social Justice Directorate
Topic
Equality and rights, Housing

This statistics bulletin provides information on homelessness in Scotland in the six-month period from 1 April 2024 to 30 September 2024, alongside historical data.

Supporting documents

Main points for April to September 2024• All figures relate to the six month period April to September, unless point in time references are otherwise stated. • Comparisons are with the corresponding periods in the previous years and percentage changes are shown between the last two periods. • Homelessness applications, open applications and households assessed as homeless o There were 20,823 homelessness applications recorded in the period April to September 2024, compared to 20,528 in 2023. This was a 1% increase. o There were 32,272 open homelessness applications at 30 September 2024, compared to 30,368 in 2023. This was a 6% increase. o There were 17,424 households assessed as homeless in the period April to September 2024, compared to 16,788 in 2023. This was a 4% increase. • There was a 4% increase in adults in homeless households and a 1% decrease in children in homeless households • Homeless household composition: o 68% single person households o 26% households containing children • 1,785 applicants reported rough sleeping during the three months prior to their application (9% of all applications) and 1,198 applicants reported rough sleeping the night before (6% of all applications) • There was a 5% increase in the number of cases closed. • 82% of unintentionally homeless households secured settled accommodation in the period April to September 2024. • Households and children in temporary accommodation as at 30 September 2024 highest in the time series o There were 16,634 households in temporary accommodation as at 30 September 2024 compared to 15,620 in 2023. o There were 10,360 children in temporary accommodation as at 30 September 2024 compared to 9,855 in 2023 • There was a 16% increase in the use of Bed & Breakfast temporary accommodation compared to 12% in 2023 • The average time spent in temporary accommodation increased from 222 days in 2023 to 234 days in 2024 • There were 7,545 instances of households not being offered temporary accommodation. This is considerably higher than the 2,000 in 2023.

  • Homelessness applications, open applications and households assessed as homeless
    • There were 20,823 homelessness applications recorded in the period April to September 2024, compared to 20,528 in 2023. This was a 1% increase.
    • There were 32,272 open homelessness applications at 30 September 2024, compared to 30,368 in 2023. This was a 6% increase.
    • There were 17,424 households assessed as homeless in the period April to September 2024, compared to 16,788 in 2023. This was a 4% increase.
  • There was a 4% increase in adults in homeless households and a 1% decrease in children in homeless households
  • Homeless household composition:
    • 68% single person households
    • 26% households containing children
  • 1,785 applicants reported rough sleeping during the three months prior to their application (9% of all applications) and 1,198 applicants reported rough sleeping the night before (6% of all applications)
  • There was a 5% increase in the number of cases closed.
  • 82% of unintentionally homeless households secured settled accommodation in the period April to September 2024.
  • Households and children in temporary accommodation as at 30 September 2024 highest in the time series
    • There were 16,634 households in temporary accommodation as at 30 September 2024 compared to 15,620 in 2023.
    • There were 10,360 children in temporary accommodation as at 30 September 2024 compared to 9,855 in 2023
  • There was a 16% increase in the use of Bed & Breakfast temporary accommodation compared to 12% in 2023
  • The average time spent in temporary accommodation increased from 222 days in 2023 to 234 days in 2024
  • There were 7,545 instances of households not being offered temporary accommodation. This is considerably higher than the 2,000 in 2023.

 

Contact

homelessness_statistics_inbox@gov.scot

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