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Publication - Statistics

Homelessness in Scotland: update to 30 September 2023

Published
27 February 2024
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 2023 to 30 September 2023, alongside historical data.

Part of

View supporting documents Supporting documents

Main findings: April to September 2023

Comparisons are with the corresponding periods in the previous years and percentage changes are shown between the latest two periods.

• 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, households assessed as homeless and households in temporary accommodation have all increased o There were 20,144 homelessness applications recorded in the period April to September 2023, compared to 19,486 in 2022. This was a 3% increase. o There were 30,724 open homelessness applications at 30 September 2023, compared to 28,019 in 2022. This was a 10% increase. o There were 16,420 households assessed as homeless in the period April to September 2023, compared to 15,793 in 2022. This was a 4% increase. o There were 15,625 households in temporary accommodation at 30 September 2023, compared to 14,452 in 2020. This was an 8% increase. • There were 9,860 children in temporary accommodation at 30 September 2023, an 8% increase compared to as at 30 Sep 2022 (9,125). • Households becoming homeless from a private rented tenancy has decreased, likely due to legislation o 13% of households became homeless from private rented tenancies in 2023, a decrease from 19% last year o 2,185 of households became homeless from private rented tenancies in 2023, a decrease from 3,010 • Homeless household composition: o 68% single person households o 27% households containing children • 1,408 applicants reported rough sleeping during the three months prior to their application (7% of all applications) • 888 applicants reported rough sleeping the night before (4% of all applications) • 82% of unintentionally homeless households secured settled accommodation in the period April to September 2023

Contact

Email: homelessness_statistics_inbox@gov.scot

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