Homelessness: key points

Someone is considered homeless if they do not have access to permanent accommodation which it is reasonable for them to occupy.

• Many homeless people in Scotland live in temporary accommodation, and a small proportion sleep rough.

• The causes of homelessness are complex. They usually include a combination of structural factors (such as poverty and lack of affordable housing) and individual vulnerabilities (such as relationship difficulties, mental health problems, or substance use).

• Poor health can be both a cause and consequence of homelessness. Homelessness is associated with poorer physical and mental health, and higher mortality rates.

• Homeless people are much less likely to be registered with a GP and more likely to go to emergency services than the wider population. 

• During the initial response to the Covid-19 pandemic in spring 2020, almost all people who were sleeping rough or living in congregate accommodation in Scotland were moved into self-contained temporary accommodation. Efforts continue to provide settled accommodation for those currently in emergency accommodation, as part of a broader policy drive towards rapid rehousing into settled accommodation for households experiencing homelessness.

• The decline in the number of households presenting as homeless or in temporary accommodation has reversed in recent years. Without urgent action, core homelessness in Scotland is anticipated to rise by a third by 2026 (Watts et al, 2024).