CIH Scotland reacts to homelessness statistics for 2024/25

The Scottish government has published homelessness statistics for 2024/25, showing a slight decrease in the total number of homeless applications, which is down one per cent on the previous year.

The number of open cases meanwhile is up one per cent, and the number of households in temporary accommodation has risen by six per cent.

'Some progress'

Commenting on the figures, Callum Chomczuk, national director of CIH Scotland, said: “The latest homelessness statistics show some progress with the number of applications falling very slightly from last year’s all-time high.

“Unfortunately, this hasn’t yet led to a decrease in open cases or the number of households in temporary accommodation, but there are early signs that the housing system can recover if the Scottish government continues to focus resources on housing and homelessness services.  

“We welcome the Scottish government’s Housing Emergency Action Plan, which will implement a number of initiatives to tackle homelessness, including £4.9 billion investment in affordable housing over the next four years."

He added: “However, our latest research into affordable housing need commissioned in partnership with Shelter Scotland and SFHA clearly shows that this will not be enough to tackle the housing emergency.

"Our report shows that we need to deliver 15,693 social and affordable homes every year to meet housing need. This would cost around £8.2 billion over the course of the next parliamentary term.

“As well as delivering new homes, we need consistency in funding for the essential services which help to prevent homelessness from happening or help people who have experienced homelessness to establish and maintain a new tenancy.

“We urge the Scottish government to commit to funding Rapid Rehousing transition plans beyond the next financial year, providing certainty for local authorities to commission the services needed to end the housing emergency in Scotland for good.”