Homelessness in Scotland: 2018 to 2019 – equalities breakdown

Outcomes

(Tables 18 and 19)

Households assessed as unintentionally homeless have a right to settled accommodation - this is usually a tenancy with a local authority landlord or housing association, or a tenancy in the private rented sector. In 2018/19, 71% of unintentionally homeless households secured settled accommodation. 

The proportion of applicants securing settled accommodation increases with age, with 59% of main applicants assessed as unintentionally homeless aged 16-17 securing settled accommodation, compared to 78% of those aged 65 and over. Younger applicants, particularly those aged 16-17 are more likely to move in with friends or family and are much less likely than older applicants to secure an Registered Social Landlord (RSL) let.

The proportion of applicants securing settled accommodation increases with age

Single males are the least likely household type to secure settled accomodation (63%, compared to 69% for single female households) and couples with children are the most likely (84%). This is partly because single males are more likely to lose contact or to have an unknown outcome.

Carribean or Black households are most likely to secure settled accommodation (81% of cases), while the figure for Asian, Asian Scottish or Asian British was just 69%. 

Contact Lost / Unknown Outcomes

In 2018/19, local authorities closed a total of 30,143 cases. Of these, following an assessment of homelessness or threatened with homelessness, an outcome of lost contact or unknown outcome was reported for 14% of cases. 

An outcome of lost contact is most common for single males, with 19% of those assessed as homeless or threatened with homelessness losing contact, or having an unknown outcome. This compares with 13% for single female households.

Older applicants are less likely to lose contact or to have an unknown outcome, with just 7% of main applicants assessed as homeless or threatened with homelessness aged 65 and over and 9% aged 50-64 losing contact or having an unknown outcome.

Single males were least likely to maintain contact with their local authority

There was very little variation in the percentage of households maintaing contact with their local authority with respect to ethnicity. African and Carribean or Black housholds were least likely to maintain contact (84%) while White: Other, Asian, Asian Scottish or Asian British and Other ethnic group the most likely (88%)