2. There’s no pretty way of saying this…
and things could get confusing…

3. For 2010-11 (most recent published data)
55,227 people across Scotland made a
homeless application
40,807 were assessed and found to be
homeless

4. Of those 40,807
14,595 were between 16 and 25
or 36% of total number of homeless people.

5. By comparison…
Number of 16-25s in Scotland= 600,000*
Which is 12% of the total population
or
2.4 % of total under 16-25s in Scotland
were assessed as homeless during 2010-11
(Worst clip art ever!)
(* from 2001 Census figures)

6. In addition, most recent stats show :
4,504 young people “ceased to be looked
after” last year.
Of these 185 were directly assessed as
homeless.

7. In total
2,332 young people aged 16-25 who have
previously been looked after* were assessed
as homeless last year
That’s 16% of the total 16-25s who were
assessed as homeless
Or 6% *of the total of those assessed as
homeless

8. At homelessness assessment interviews people
are asked if they were ever looked after: this is
sub divided into in the past 5 years or longer
than 5 years ago.
The 6% figure is only for those under 25. There
are many more people who have previously been
looked after who either have refused to answer
or who have chosen not tell the truth about a
past in care. E.g. There are 1824 people in the
current stats who refused to answer.
If even half of them had previously been looked
after, then the percentage of those assessed as
homeless could rise to around 22% of all 16-25s
assessed as homeless or 8% of total

9. Why this matters:
Personal: disruptive, damaging, dispiriting,
divisive, dangerous
Financial: expensive….

10. SCSH recent study shows costs of tenancy
failure to be rising.
Based on a couple of different scenarios for
under 25s:
6 months in temp = £12k not including
support
12 months in temp = £20k not including
support
Costs of support can add around 3k to each
total. (See “briefings” on SCSH website for full report)

13. Outlook?
Although current trend is downward
•Existing & projected high youth
unemployment
•Impact of welfare reforms
•Continuing gloomy economic forecasts
-All suggest likely increase in youth
homelessness over the next few years.
Women likely to be particularly hard hit.

14. Solutions?
Prevention:
Earlier precautionary prevention
(but without impacting crisis intervention)
Co-ordination:
Closer working & increased joint working
(but without undermining tendering
processes)
Lobbying:
Political pressure, evidence based
research, making sure homeless voices
are heard