Homelessness expected to jump by 50% in the next 25 years

There looks set to be a rise in homelessness in Scotland by more than 50% in the next 25 years.

That's according to research by Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh for homelessness charity Crisis.

If current economic policies continue unchanged, the number of rough sleepers could nearly double in that time from 800 to 1,500, while in the shorter term the number of people in unsuitable temporary accommodation is forecast to rise by a third in the next decade.

The number of people sofa-surfing due to lack of a permanent home are set to rise by almost a quarter (23%) in the next 10 years.

The report states there are currently 11,800 people across Scotland either sleeping rough, staying in hostels, living in unsuitable temporary accommodation, sofa-surfing, sleeping in cars, or staying in squats or refuges.

Analysis indicates this figure is expected to rise to 12,200 by 2021 before accelerating to 18,100 - a rise of 53% on current levels - in 2041.

The report estimates that at any one time in 2016, across Scotland 800 people spent one night sleeping rough, 5,200 households were sofa-surfing and 2,100 households were living in unsuitable temporary accommodation.

A further 2,300 households were staying in hostels while 1,400 households were living in other circumstances, including squats, women's refuges, winter night shelters, sleeping in tents, cars or public transport.

In response to the report's findings, Crisis is calling on the public to join its Everybody In campaign aimed at ending the worst forms of homelessness.

Jon Sparkes, chief executive of Crisis, said: 'This year Crisis marks its 50th anniversary, but that's little cause for celebration. We still exist because homelessness still exists, and today's report makes it only too clear that unless we take action as a society, the problem is only going to get worse with every year that passes.

'That means more people sleeping on our streets, in doorways or bus shelters, on the sofas of friends or family, or getting by in hostels and B&Bs. In order to tackle this, it's crucial we first understand the scale of the problem.'

He praised the Scottish Government's commitment to build 50,000 new affordable homes by 2021, of which 35,000 will be for social rent - which he said would help slow the rise in homelessness in the short-term.

He added: 'Now is the time for action and we look forward to working with the Scottish Government to find solutions and bring these forecasts down. We can't do this in isolation though, which is why we're calling on the public to back our Everybody In campaign and help us build a movement for change.