Record number of children in temporary housing in Scotland

There was a 38% increase in the number of applications from households granted refugee and leave to remain status – from 1,435 to 1,975.

The majority of homeless applicants – 79% – stated they were of white ethnicity.

Just over a quarter of households assessed as homeless contained children, a slight decrease from the same period in 2023.

Maeve McGoldrick, head of policy and communication at the charity Crisis, said the latest figures did not come as a surprise to those working in homelessness services.

“As the cost of living crisis continues to impact household incomes, more people are being forced from their homes, often in circumstances where we know it could have been prevented from happening,” she said.

“These figures show councils are working to help move people out of homelessness and into settled accommodation, but they can’t keep up with growing demand for their help.”

She said “a targeted response” was needed to stop more people from being forced into homelessness.