Homelessness in Scotland: update to 30 September 2018

Assessments

(Table 1, Chart 2 and Chart 3)

Overall assessments

There were 18,499 assessments made between April to September 2018, compared to 18,153 for the same period in 2017, an increase of 346 assessments (2%). Over the full 12 month period to end September 2018, the number of assessments increased by 2% (694 assessments) compared to the previous year.

Of the 18,499 homelessness assessments made between 1 April and 30 September 2018, 15,247 (82%) were assessed as homeless or threatened with homelessness, 734 (4%) were assessed as not homeless and 892 (5%) had their homelessness resolved before the assessment was made. There were 1,626 (9%) applications where contact was lost before assessment, the application was withdrawn or the applicant was ineligible for assistance. Compared with the same period one year ago, the proportion of cases assessed as homeless or threatened with homelessness is similar (at 83%).

Note that the number of assessments made during April to September (18,499) is higher than the number of applications for homelessness assistance (18,486). These numbers do not match because some applications made during the period are yet to reach assessment stage; and some assessments during this period are completed for applications that were made before the period.

From 31st December 2012 onwards, the distinction between priority need and non-priority need applications was abolished. Chart 2 shows the figures, over time.

Chart 2: Homelessness Assessments in Scotland, by quarter, April 2002 to September 2018

To note, prior to 31st December 2012, the priority need category included:

• unintentionally homeless and in priority need;
• intentionally homeless and in priority need;
• unintentionally potentially homeless and in priority need; and
• intentionally potentially homeless and in priority need.

Intentionality

Cases assessed as homeless (or threatened with homelessness) are also tested as to whether they made themselves homeless intentionally. If an applicant has made themselves intentionally homeless, they are not entitled to settled accommodation. They are only entitled to be housed in temporary accommodation for a reasonable period of time, and be given advice and assistance.

The proportion of cases assessed as intentionally homeless has generally increased at a national level since 2009, but since 2014 this proportion has reduced from a quarterly average of 6% to 5% (Table 1 and Chart 3). Of the 18,499 homelessness assessments made between 1 April and 30 September 2018, there were 802 intentionality decisions, an increase of 38 (5%) in the number of such decisions compared with the same period one year earlier.

Chart 3: Percentage of cases assessed as intentionally homeless, by quarter, April 2002 to September 2018

Table 5 shows that, between 1 April and 30 September 2018, there is a high proportion of intentionally homeless assessments in a number of Local Authorities - the highest proportions were in Falkirk (18.0%), Moray (13.2%) and Clackmannanshire (11.8%).