New homelessness figures show why we need change

James Mullaney, Senior Best Practice Officer

19.02.2025

The most recent statistics on homelessness in Scotland tell an important story: Scotland has a strong set of rights in place for people experiencing homelessness, but homelessness continues to rise. Why? Because people are being forced to enter into homelessness before they can get the help they need. The new figures show why new prevention duties, contained in the Housing Bill, are more important than ever.

What do the stats show?

The Scottish Government recently published new official figures on homelessness in Scotland, covering 1 April 2024 to 30 September 2024, and they paint a grim picture.

They show there were 32,272 open homelessness applications at 30 September 2024, compared to 30,368 in 2023 (a 6% increase), with 2,220 applications from households where one member of it had slept rough the night before seeking help. This is a 32% increase over the year before.

There were 10,360 children in temporary accommodation at 30 September 2024 compared to 9,855 in 2023, and overall there were 16,634 households in temporary accommodation as of 30 September 2024, compared to 15,620 in 2023.

Meanwhile, the use of unsuitable Bed & Breakfast accommodation experienced the largest increase from 1,905 households in September 2023 to 2,680 in September 2024 (41%).

The number of children in unsuitable Bed & Breakfast temporary accommodation has more than doubled since last year (a 223% increase from 130 to 420).

What does this tell us?

These figures are deeply worrying, but they are not at all surprising – homelessness in Scotland has been rising steadily for several years. And with the number of households becoming homeless after having their previous tenancy or mortgage terminated due to rent arrears or default on payment up by 27% since last year (from 837 to 1,066), it’s clear that the cost of living crisis is driving more people into homelessness.

Yet while more people are being forced into homelessness, the stats also show that a higher number of cases are being closed – with a 5% rise compared to 2023.

This is proof that councils and homelessness services are working with their available resources to help move people out of homelessness. Simply put, local authorities are doing more than ever before to move people out of homelessness and into settled accommodation, but they can’t keep up with growing demand for their help.

How can we act to prevent rising homelessness?

At Crisis we have been working with the Scottish Government and with parties from across parliament to change the law, to help prevent homelessness from happening in the first place.

The plans, which would allow people at risk of homelessness to get help earlier, and widen responsibility for homelessness prevention across public services, are contained in the Housing Bill, which was introduced to parliament last year, and will soon begin Stage Two of its journey to becoming law.

We are working to help shape the Bill, including through suggesting amendments that could be scrutinised by MSPs on the Social Justice and Social Security Committee. We will campaign to make sure that local authorities and other public services involved have the support, tools, and funding they need to act meaningfully.

We can’t afford to wait

These new figures should represent a wake-up call: it is essential to stop the flow of people entering the homelessness system if we want to end the housing emergency in Scotland.

The figures demonstrate that local authorities are working tirelessly to end people’s homelessness, but some are overwhelmed by the level of demand for their services and support.

Investment in social and affordable housing is critical, but will not be enough in isolation. Done in tandem with a new model of prevention, we could build a truly world leading system.

We have to move beyond managing the crisis. It’s time to end it.