WIREDGOV

An Accredited Official Statistics Publication for Scotland

An update on Homelessness Statistics covering 1 April to 30 September 2025 has been released today.

Over that period:

• There were 20,643 applications for homelessness assistance. This is a decrease of 2% (468) compared with the same six-month period in 2024.
• There were 17,291 households assessed as homeless or threatened with homelessness; also a decrease of 2% (379) compared to 2024.
• There were 33,006 open cases at 30 September 2025. This is a 4% (1,124) increase compared to 30 September 2024 and the highest in the time series since 2003.
• There were 18,092 households and 10,480 children in temporary accommodation at 30 September 2025. These are also the highest in the time series since 2002 and increases of 9% and 1%, respectively, compared to 30 September 2024.
• There were 2,092 households reporting a household member experiencing rough sleeping in the three months prior to application, and 1,487 the night before. These are increases of 16% and 24%, respectively, compared to 2024.
• Applications from those with refugee / leave to remain status accounted for 16% of all applications. Applications from these households increased by 51% between 2024 and 2025, while they decreased for all other eligibility categories.
• There was a 4% decrease in the number of adults (to 19,469) and a 14% decrease (to 7,304) in the number of children associated with homeless households in the period April to September 2025 compared to 2024.
• There were 10,710 instances of households not being offered temporary accommodation. This is an increase from 7,565 in 2024.
• There were 3,635 breaches of the unsuitable accommodation order. This is a 12% decrease compared to 4,150 in 2024.
• A total of 19,280 cases closed between April and September 2025, a decrease of 6% compared to 20,604 in 2024.
• The proportion of households who secured settled accommodation having been assessed as unintentionally homeless, and where the outcome was known, was 83%, the same as 2024.

Background

The full statistical publication is available on our website.

The Homelessness in Scotland: Update to 30 September 2025 publication provides an indication of trends for key aspects of homelessness including applications, assessments, use of temporary accommodation and outcomes in the period from 1 January 2023 to 30 September 2025.

Official statistics are produced by professionally independent statistical staff – more information on the standards of official statistics in Scotland is available.