Scottish homelessness figures fall by 20 per cent

The number of people being made homeless in Scotland fell last year, new figures have revealed.

Scottish Government statistics showed there were 23,796 homeless applications to local authorities between April and September 2011, a 20 per cent decrease compared with the same period the previous year.

Reductions were recorded in 28 of Scotland’s 32 councils, with Aberdeen and the Borders both recording a fall of 56 per cent.

The figure represents the lowest number of applications in a decade.

The government is working towards a homelessness target to ensure that by the end of 2012 all unintentionally homeless people will be entitled to settled accommodation.

Housing minister Keith Brown said: “These encouraging statistics show that we are within touching distance of meeting the 2012 homelessness target.

“The dramatic decrease in applications is likely to be a consequence of changes in how local authorities help households who approach them for assistance.”

Charity Shelter Scotland welcomed the figures.

Director Graeme Brown said: “A 20 per cent reduction in homeless applications compared to this time last year is great news and I congratulate the majority of local authorities across Scotland who have made huge progress on homelessness.

“This success should not blind us to the scale of Scotland’s ongoing housing crisis.

“Nearly 50,000 people still presented as homeless in the last 12 months, so this progress needs to be a catalyst for even greater change.”