Homelessness in Scotland: update to 30 September 2022

Main findings: April to September 2022

Comparisons are with the corresponding periods in previous years

• homelessness applications, open applications, and households in temporary accommodation have all increased and are now higher than pre-pandemic.
  • there were 28,944 open homelessness applications as at 30 September 2022
  • this is an increase of 11% from last year and highest since the data collection began in 2002
  • there were 19,066 homelessness applications recorded in the period April to September 2022
  • this is an increase of 6% from last year, and slightly higher than pre-pandemic figures
  • there were 14,458 households in temporary accommodation as at 30 September 2022, an increase of 1% compared to last year
  • there were 9,130 children in temporary accommodation as at 30 September 2022, an increase of 10% compared to last year
• households becoming homeless from a private rented tenancy has increased and is now higher than pre-pandemic
  • 19% of households became homeless from private rented tenancies in the period April to September 2022, an increase from 14% last year
• the number of people reporting rough sleeping prior to making a homelessness application have increased in line with the increase in homelessness applications
  • 1,184 applicants reported rough sleeping during the three months prior to their application (6% of all applications)
  • 733 applicants reported rough sleeping the night before (4% of all applications)
• 83% of unintentionally homeless households secured settled accommodation in the period April to September 2022, the same as last year
• households assessed as homeless or threatened with homelessness (intentional or unintentional) in the period April to September 2022 consisted of:
  • 64% single person households
  • 30% households containing children