Homelessness in Scotland: 2019 to 2020

How Long Does it Take to Complete the Homeless Application Process?

How long does it take for an application to be processed?

In 2019/20 it took 16 days on average for a case to be assessed following an application. This has fallen over time from an average of 29 days in 2004/05. Again there is considerable variation among local authorities, with Edinburgh taking 7 days on average to assess each case compared to 30 in Shetland. (Table 22)

The time taken from assessment to closure varies depending on the outcome of the assessment. For homelessness cases that closed in 2019/20 it took an average of 224 days from assessment to closure. For households not assessed as homeless, where the local authority does not have a duty to provide temporary accommodation or permanent settled accommodation, the average was 26 days. (Tables 52 & 53)

The time taken to close homelessness cases has increased significantly over time. In 2002/03 it took 33 days on average for a case to be closed. This is likely due to the extension of duties local authorites have to homeless applicants.