Homelessness in Scotland: 2018 to 2019

Assessments

(Tables 11 to 16)

During 2018/19, 82% of applicants (29,894 assessments out of a total of 36,392) were assessed as homeless or threatened with homelessness (Table 12). This is an increase (523 assessments, 2%) when comparing with last year. The proportion of applicants assessed as homeless/threatened with homelessness has gradually increased from 72% in 2004/05 and has remained above 80% since 2012/13.

There were 28,369 unintentionally homeless assessments during 2018/19, an increase of 517 assessments on 2017/18. These households are entitled to settled accommodation.^[7]

Chart 7 below shows that relatively few assessments are found to be intentionally homeless or threatened with homelessness, comprising 5.1% (or 1,525) of all homeless or threatened with homelessness assessments. However, this proportion has risen (from a low point of 2.6% in 2004/05).

Chart 7: Scotland: Intentionally homelessness assessments

Prior to the abolition of the priority need test, only those assessed as homeless (or threatened with homelessness) and in priority need would have proceeded to the intentionality test. However, following abolition, all those assessed as homeless (or threatened with homelessness) are tested for intentionality. As a result, more homeless applicants may be found to be intentionally homeless.

Repeat homelessness

The percentage of homeless assessments identified as repeat cases (i.e. where a previous application from the household had been closed less than 12 months before the current assessment^[8]) fell from 9.8% in 2002/03 (3,891 assessments) to a low of 5.6% in both 2010/11 and 2012/13. It has since risen to 7% in 2014/15, before gradually decreasing to 5.8% (1,744 assessments) in 2018/19 (See Chart 8 and Table 14).

The rate of repeat homelessness varies by Local Authority area, from around 12% in Dumfries and Galloway to less than 1% in Orkney (Table 14).

Chart 8: Scotland: Repeat homelessness assessments

Support needs of homeless households

Of the 29,894 households assessed as homeless in 2018/19, almost half (49%) cited having one or more support needs. This proportion has increased by 2 percentage points since 2017/18 and 15 percentage points since 2013/14 (Table 15).

During 2018/19, over half of applicants with support needs cited a mental health problem as a support need (51% of those with support needs or 7,410 times indicated). 47% specified support needs for basic housing management/ independent living reasons (6,866 times) and 23% cited drug or alcohol dependency (indicated 3,345 times) (See Chart 9).

The increase in support needs identified in applications may indicate a rise in more complex situations.

Chart 9: Identified Support Needs of Homeless Households Scotland 2018-19