Homelessness Applications
type: Dataset
accuracy: Given the continuous nature of the recording system, figures are updated on an ongoing basis and may differ from those previously published. There may be delays in some cases being reported to the Scottish Government due to IT issues, quality assurance processes and delayed entry of data - particularly at the end of the financial year. As a result, we estimate that the headline number of applications may change by as much as 2% between first and subsequent publications.
comment: Summary figures of 1) all homelessness applications to local authorities each financial year in Scotland, 2) the total number of these assessed as homeless or threatened with homelessness.
completeness: Operation of the Homelessness Persons Legislation in Scotland is available on the [Scottish Government website.](https://www.gov.scot/collections/homelessness-statistics/) Tables included in the bulletin are also available to download from website in Excel. The publication is available as a web page and in PDF formats.
confidentiality: All disclosive figures are rounded to 5.
consistency: Because of the differences in collection methods and in the legislative duties to homeless households in Scotland following the 2001 homelessness legislation care needs to be taken in comparing homelessness statistics to England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
geographical coverage: S12
geographical coverage: S92
license id: uk-ogl
next update: 2026-09-01
quality management: The quality of these figures rely on on the quality and consistency of the information supplied to us by Local Authorities on the HL1 and HL2 returns. The quality statement on the [Scottish homelessness statistics website](https://www.gov.scot/collections/homelessness-statistics/) sets out the ways in which we do this. The main focus of our systems is to ensure consistency between the HL1 and HL2 returns and consistency of the case level information within each HL1 return.
reference period: PeriodOfTime
  end date: 2025-01-01T00:00:00
  start date: 2007-01-01T00:00:00
timeliness: Operation of the Homelessness Persons Legislation in Scotland is published around five months after the end of the relevant period. Data gathering and error correction errors from all local authorities usually takes around 3 months to complete. The report production timetable takes a further month. There is one month extra in the timetable as a contingency against staff illness and unforeseen circumstances: \u2022 Annual data for 1 April to 31 March are published in August.
uniqueness: Not assessed
update frequency: annual
validity: Operation of the Homelessness Persons Legislation in Scotland is used to monitor trends in homelessness and to provide information on the implementation and effectiveness of Scottish homelessness legislation. Crucially, this statistical output is used to monitor the implementation of the Scottish Government's 2012 homelessness target. That is, by 31st December 2012, the priority need test should be abolished. The Homelessness Statistics User Group meets twice yearly and is consulted on to ensure that Operation of the Homelessness Persons Legislation in Scotland remain relevant to users and make best use of the available data.
will be updated: true
contact point: ContactPoint
date modified: 2026-08-13T12:23:18.991569
date published: 2026-08-13T12:20:54.918060
description: Summary figures of 1) all homelessness applications to local authorities each financial year in Scotland, 2) the total number of these assessed as homeless or threatened with homelessness.
included in data catalog: CKAN
keywords: Housing
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

homelessness-applications.csv
type: DataDownload
comment: Summary figures of 1) all homelessness applications to local authorities each financial year in Scotland, 2) the total number of these assessed as homeless or threatened with homelessness.
dictionary: Column
  column: GeographyName
  type: text
dictionary: Column
  column: Measurement
  type: text
dictionary: Column
  column: DateCode
  type: text
dictionary: Column
  column: Application Type
  type: text
dictionary: Column
  column: GeographyType
  type: text
dictionary: Column
  column: Value
  type: int
dictionary: Column
  column: GeographyCode
  type: text
dictionary: Column
  column: Units
  type: text
description: Data file for Homelessness Applications
encoding format: CSV

Scottish Government
type: Organization
contact point: ContactPoint
  contact type: customer service