Homelessness Statistics Scotland 2024-25

17th September 2025

A bi-annual update on Homelessness Statistics covering 2024-25 has been released today.

Findings for that period show:

A decrease in homelessness applications for the first time in four years. There was a total of 40,688 applications, 366 (1%) less than 2023-24.

There were 34,067 households assessed as homeless or threatened with homelessness. An increase of 112 (less than 0.5%) compared to 2023-24, and the highest since 2011-12.

There were 31,695 live applications as at 31 March 2025. Although this is 1% higher than March 2024, it is 2% lower than the 32,272 at 30 September 2024.

The number of households in temporary accommodation increased by 6% compared to March 2024, reaching the highest in the series at 17,240 at 31 March 2025. This is 4% higher than at 30 September 2024.

The number of children in temporary accommodation also experienced an annual increase (1%) between March 2024 and 2025 reaching 10,180. However, this was a 2% decrease compared to 10,360 in September 2024.

The number of households reporting rough sleeping the night before application has increased from 1,932 to 2,465 and in the three months prior from 3,058 to 3,579 between 2023-24 and 2024-25.

The average time spent in temporary accommodation for cases that closed in 2024-25 was 238 days. This is ten days higher than 2023-24 and compares to 305 days, on average, for cases that are still open.

82% of households assessed as unintentionally homeless secured settled accommodation in 2024-25, similar to 83% in 2023-24.

The time it takes to close a homelessness case following assessment, and where the household has been assessed as homeless or threatened with homelessness, has increased slightly from 278 to 280 days between 2023-24 and 2024-25.

Full statistical publication is available at
https://www.gov.scot/news/homelessness-statistics-2024-25/