Operation of the homeless persons legislation in Scotland: quarters ending 30 June and 30 September 2011 (including households in temporary accommodation at 31 December 2011)

Applications

Trends

There were 23,796 homeless applications in April to September 2011 are 20% below the same period in 2010 and are at their lowest level since April to September 2002. The number of applications for homelessness assistance increased from around 25,000 in April - September 2002 to a little over 30,000 by the same period in 2006. (Chart 1) From 2006 to 2010 applications remained at broadly the same level. From October 2010 the number of applications has fallen nationally in each of the last two 6-month periods, with a drop of almost 4,000 applications in the period October 2010 to March 2011 and a further reduction of around 2,000 applications in the period April to September 2011.

Between April-September 2010 and April-September 2011 the number of applications has fallen in 28 out of Scotland's 32 local authorities. The largest reductions have been seen in Aberdeen City (-56%), The Scottish Borders (-56%), Falkirk (-53%), Stirling (-42%), Highland (-41%), East Lothian (-38%) and Moray (-32%). A further 17 councils saw reductions in their applications of more than 10% and four council saw some smaller reductions. The four local authorities with increases in applications over the period were South Ayrshire (+6%), Renfrewshire (+8%), Angus (+18%) and Midlothian (+23%).

It is likely that this decrease in applications is mainly a consequence of changes in the services which local authorities provide to households who approach them for assistance. Over the past few years councils have been developing services in which staff assist households to consider the range of options available to address their housing needs. As a consequence some of the households who might previously have made a homelessness application may now have their housing needs met without first becoming homeless. Further information on the development of housing options services in Scottish local authorities is available at Homelessness Prevention.

Chart 1:

Types of household applying for assistance

While the number of applications has fallen, the proportions of different types of household becoming homeless is largely unchanged compared with previous years. Similarly, the reasons for which households become homeless is also unchanged. Homeless households are predominantly single people and single parents. They are mainly homeless as a consequence of relationship breakdown. Between April and September 2011 63% of applications were from single people without dependants, 24% were from single parents, 9% from couples and 4% from other types of household. Just under a third of all applications are households containing children.

Chart 2:

Households applying for homelessness assistance also have a very young age profile. Chart 3 shows the age distribution of the main applicant in the household, for those applying between April and September 2011. Around 40% of female applicants are aged under 25. Males have a slightly older age profile with approximately half (46%) being aged under 30 Around 84% of main applicants (for both males and females) are aged under 45.

Chart 3:

Prior circumstances and reasons for homelessness (Tables 5a - 8b)

The pattern of previous living circumstances of homeless applicants has remained broadly the same since this question was introduced in April 2007. In April-September 2011:

• Just under half (47%) of applications were from those who had been living with parents/relatives, friends or partners prior to applying for homelessness assistance;
• Just under a third (34%) of applications were from those who had either been renting a property or were an owner occupier;
• 7% were homeless from an institution such as prison, hospital or supported accommodation;
• 3% were homeless from temporary or unsettled accommodation.

Chart 4:

Relationship breakdown is the main cause of homelessness among those who were previously living with parents, family, friends or partners. Between April and September 2011, over half of those becoming homeless while living with parents or relatives gave 'being asked to leave' as the main reason for their application, around a fifth cited non-violent disputes within the household and 6% cited violent or abusive disputes within the household. In the same period, 38% of those becoming homeless after living with friends or partners cited 'being asked to leave', 32% non-violent disputes within the household and 14% violent or abusive disputes within the household.

Homeless applicants previously renting from local authorities or housing associations give very similar reasons for their homelessness. Between April and September 2011, around 25% of applicants from these tenures cited non-domestic violence/harassment as the main reason; around 20% a violent or abusive dispute within the household; and 14% a non-violent dispute within the household. Rent arrears accounted for 8-12% of applications within this group and 'Other action by landlord' a further 5 -7%.

The main reason for homelessness for households previously renting privately is 'Other action by landlord' which accounts for around 40% of applications by households coming from this tenure. Disputes within the household, both violent and non-violent, account for a around 7% each.

Relationship breakdown is the main reason for homelessness for households who previously owned their house. Between April and September 2011 50% were homeless because of a household dispute (26% non-violent dispute; 24% violent dispute) and a further 11% were homeless because of forced division and sale of matrimonial home. In the period 17% of homeless who were previously owners (208 applications in the 6 month period) were homeless because of mortgage default.

Chart 5: