One Scot in every 100 applies to be classed as homeless

• Rise in homeless doubles in last 10 years

• Main causes said to be social rather then economic

• Critics say Homelessness Bill has made situation worse

Key quote

Story in full

SCOTLAND’s homeless population has soared to an all-time high, with the Executive’s new policy on vagrancy prompting homeless applications from one in every 100 Scots.

An analysis by The Scotsman reveals the number officially counted as homeless by Scotland’s 32 local authorities has doubled over the last 10 years and jumped by 24 per cent since devolution.

Over the last year, some 54,829 applications were processed, of which 38,650 were assessed as homeless - a figure equal to the population of Falkirk. The vast majority are in temporary accommodation with only 350 sleeping rough.

The Homelessness Bill was put through by the Scottish Parliament in 2003, making it easier to apply for homeless status and giving enhanced benefits. But opponents say this has instead promoted homelessness as an alternative lifestyle, if it is combined with a welfare package such as incapacity benefit which is worth more than a year’s work on the minimum wage.

For the first time since records began in 1979, the proportion of homeless applications jumped through 1 per cent of the Scottish population in 2003-04.

Shelter, the homeless charity, said the problem was linked to the decline in social housing and rising rents. "If you want to understand it, look in newspaper adverts where landlords say ‘no DSS’," said Gavin Corbett, head of campaigns at Shelter Scotland. "The right-to-buy means there are 100,000 fewer council houses since Labour came to power. People can’t get housing now, and the results are obvious."

The Scottish Executive said its reforms were designed to make it easier for people to claim homeless status - and that the jump in the homeless figures is a response to that.

"By improving their rights, people are encouraged to come forward and get help. This may have lead to some of the previously ‘hidden homeless’ coming forward to claim their rights," a spokesman said. "Scotland now has some of the most progressive homelessness legislation in the world. We are improving the rights of homeless people and widening the duties of local authorities to provide accommodation and assistance."

The Conservatives said the Executive should ask if the problem is being fuelled by throwing money at it. Mev Brown, who works at the Cowgate Centre Shelter and is also the Tory election candidate for Edinburgh East, said he saw at first-hand the effects of government policies.

"Most people we see are alcohol or drug addicts, in a chaotic lifestyle," he said. "The benefits these people can get have gone up, but this doesn’t solve the problem because there is no requirement to enter rehab or detox."

A benefits-driven approach to homelessness will not succeed as long as there are insufficient places in rehabilitation, he said: "We have to ask whether we see homelessness as social scourge, or an alternative lifestyle."

Of those accepted as homeless by local authorities, the vast majority say they have been thrown out by family or friends where they were staying. The Executive’s changes suggest those who categorise themselves as "voluntarily homeless" are guaranteed government facilities for a longer period of time.

The soar in homelessness is utterly detached from Scotland’s rising employment levels - which, at 75 per cent, are the highest in the UK.

A study by the Office for National Statistics in Glasgow suggested the main causes of homelessness are social rather than economic - with many rooted to mental problems.

Its study showed 76 per cent of the homeless suffered neurosis. Just under half were assessed as having a neurotic disorder. Two-thirds had a longstanding illness.