Homelessness in Scotland: 2017 to 2018

Footnotes

1 This is the first time that the number of breaches have been published according to the changes made by the Homelessness Persons (Unsuitable Accommodation Order) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2017 (implemented from 2nd October 2017). See Summary of current legislation for more details.

2 Tables and charts are published separately and are available to download at: http://www.gov.scot/homelessstats

3 The Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 extended councils’ duties to non-priority homeless and the Homelessness etc. (Scotland) Act 2003 set the longer term objective of phasing out the distinction between priority and non-priority homeless. See Summary of Homelessness Legislation for more details.

4 In November 2012, the Scottish Parliament approved the Homelessness (Abolition of Priority Need Test) (Scotland) Order 2012.

5 Housing Options (PREVENT1) Statistics in Scotland: 2017/18 is published alongside this publication and is available at the same location online.

6 To note, the Temporary Accommodation category in Chart 4 includes applicants that were residing in a Hostel, Bed and Breakfast, Caravan/Mobile Home, or were long-term roofless or ‘sofa surfing’.

7 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/692938/Statutory_Homelessness_and_Prevention_and_Relief_Statistical_Release_Oct_to_Dec_2017.pdf

8 From 31st December 2012, the priority need test for homeless households was abolished. As a result, all unintentionally homeless households are entitled to settled accommodation. This includes RSL, LA or assured tenancies in the private rented sector.

9 To be classed as a repeat homelessness assessment the applicant household must (1) be assessed as homeless or threatened with homelessness in both applications; (2) the previous case must have been closed within 12 months of the current assessment and; (3) the adults and family circumstances also need to be the same in both applications.

10 For more information on the HL2 return, see here

11 The Scottish Government have worked with local authorities to quality assure HL3 data since mandatory submission in 2016. For more information on HL3 data quality, see the ‘data quality’ section.

12 Breaches as at 31^st March 2018 are not directly comparable to that at the same date in previous years since they are defined by different time periods specified by the Amendment Order 2017. It is not possible to back-date with the renewed ‘over 7 day’ definition due to the nature of the HL2 recording and return from local authorities.

13 The use of particular types of temporary accommodation varies between local authorities, as shown by the local authority level figures provided in Table 26.

14 If before 31st December 2012.