Housing and homelessness statistics
Shelter Scotland works towards making sure there is a home for everyone, and that this home is safe, secure and affordable.
Here you'll find all the latest facts about housing and homelessness in Scotland – and you'll find the figures speak for themselves.
How many people are homeless in Scotland?
Every 19 minutes a household becomes homeless in Scotland
Number of applications | Number of assessments as homeless | |
---|---|---|
1992-93 | 42822 | 30100 |
1993-94 | 43038 | 30900 |
1994-95 | 41495 | 31600 |
1995-96 | 40936 | 30300 |
1996-97 | 40989 | 30600 |
1997-98 | 43135 | 32500 |
1998-99 | 45723 | 33500 |
1999-00 | 46023 | 33600 |
2000-01 | 45004 | 33300 |
2001-02 | 47493 | 37100 |
2002-03 | 52122 | 40246 |
2003-04 | 56616 | 43057 |
2004-05 | 57393 | 41632 |
2005-06 | 60662 | 43595 |
2006-07 | 59554 | 42729 |
2007-08 | 57253 | 41662 |
2008-09 | 57682 | 41596 |
2009-10 | 57220 | 43371 |
2010-11 | 55646 | 41530 |
2011-12 | 45552 | 35387 |
2012-13 | 40051 | 32132 |
2013-14 | 37234 | 30093 |
2014-15 | 35764 | 28615 |
2015-16 | 34662 | 28226 |
2016-17 | 34100 | 28247 |
2017-18 | 34972 | 28972 |
2018-19 | 36465 | 29894 |
2019-20 | 36855 | 31333 |
2020-21 | 33,792 | 27,571 |
In the year April 2020 to March 2021 there were 33,792 homeless applications and 27,571 households assessed as homeless This equates to a household losing their home every 19 minutes.
The number of households assessed as homeless has decreased by 13% compared with the year before. This decrease is likely to reflect the impact that the Scottish Government's protections against evictions have had on preventing homelessness during the pandemic. Source: Homelessness in Scotland: 2020 to 2021 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)
How many children are homeless in Scotland?
11,804 children were in households assessed as homeless in 2020-2021
This is equivalent to 32 children in Scotland becoming homeless every da
Household type | Percentage of homeless applications in Scotland |
---|---|
Single male | 46% |
Single female | 20% |
Female single parent | 17% |
Male single parent | 5% |
Couple with children | 4% |
Couple without children | 4% |
Other without children | 2% |
Other with children | 2% |
Age group | Number of males | Number of females | Total number |
---|---|---|---|
16-17 years old | 456 | 603 | 1059 |
18-24 years old | 2946 | 3298 | 6244 |
25-34 years old | 5751 | 4595 | 10346 |
35-49 years old | 5517 | 3818 | 9335 |
50-59 years old | 1793 | 1118 | 2911 |
60+ years old | 838 | 600 | 1438 |
The number of single males who are assessed as homeless makes up nearly half of all homeless households. Females under 24 are slightly more likely to become homeless than males under 24.
Source: Scottish Government, Homelessness in Scotland 2019-20
Why do people become homeless?
Reasons for homelessness | Percentage |
---|---|
Dispute with household / relationship breakdown (non-violent) | 22% |
Asked to leave accommodation | 27% |
Action by landlord or lender | 5% |
Harrassment | 2% |
Left hospital, prison or care | 5% |
Dispite within household (violent or abusive) | 14% |
Other | 27% |
Nearly half of all homeless applications in 2020-2021 were due to relationship breakdown or being asked to leave.
The category of 'other' includes loss of accommodation tied to employment, an emergency such as a fire or flood, and overcrowding, among other reasons.
Source: Homelessness in Scotland: 2020 to 2021 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)
Where do people live before applying as homeless?
Where people live before applying as homeless | Percentage |
---|---|
Private rented accommodation | 16% |
Tied accomodation | 1% |
Owner occupier | 3% |
With friends, family or partner | 52% |
Prison | 6% |
Hospital | 1% |
Supported accommodation | 3% |
Social rented accommodation | 14% |
Other | 9% |
How many households live in temporary accommodation in Scotland?
On the 31st March 2021, there were:
13,097 households in temporary accommodation in Scotland
3,645 households containing dependent children and pregnant women in temporary accommodation across Scotland
7,130 dependent children living in temporary accommodation across Scotland
199 days was the average time spent by households in temporary accommodation in 2019-20. Households with children spent, on average, 14 weeks longer in temporary accommodation than those without.
Source: Homelessness in Scotland: 2020 to 2021 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)
How many people are on waiting lists for social homes in Scotland?
315,625 local authority homes in Scotland on the 31st March 2019.
130,000 is the number of households on local authority housing waiting lists across Scotland.
60,000 children on local authority housing waiting lists across Scotland.
The 130,000 figure is likely to be an underestimate of the true level of need, and doesn't include households on lists for housing association homes (which, for example, is all the social housing in Glasgow).
Source: Scottish Government, Housing Statistics for Scotland, 2019
Source: Scottish Government, Scottish Household Survey, 2019
What kind of housing do people live in?
Type of housing | Percentage |
---|---|
Owner occupied | 62% |
Social rented | 24% |
Private rented | 14% |
The primary tenure for households in Scotland is still owner occupation, however 14% of households now live in the private rented sector, which has more than doubled in the last ten years.
You can look at how this tenure split differs by local authority area on the local statistics pages.
Source: Scottish Government, Scottish Household Survey, 2019
Housing conditions
1 in 10 households in Scotland are affected by dampness or condensation (or both)
613,000 households are in fuel poverty in Scotland
52,000 households are overcrowded in Scotland. This represents 2% of all households in Scotland
Source: Scottish Government, Scottish House Conditions Survey - Key Findings 2019
Contact
For a fuller analysis looking at the national homelessness statistics, you can view our report: Getting Behind the Statistics: Update for 2018-19.
If you require further information, or have any questions/feedback, please contact: alice_tooms-moore@shelter.org.uk
Data sources
Homelessness in Scotland: 2020 to 2021 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)
Housing Options (PREVENT1) Statistics in Scotland 2018-19, Scottish Government
Scottish Government, Scottish Household Survey, 2019
Scottish Government, Scottish House Conditions Survey - Key Findings 2019
Housing Statistics for Scotland 2019, Scottish Government
Scottish Government, Scottish Household Survey, 2019
Scottish Government, Homelessness in Scotland, update to September 2020