Homelessness update - Report
Renfrewshire Council · 28 October 2025
Back to Communities and Housing Policy Board — 28 October 2025 and its agenda
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PUBLIC ___________________________________________________________________ To: Communities and Housing Policy Board On: 28 October 2025 ___________________________________________________________________ Report by: Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure ___________________________________________________________________ Heading: Homelessness update ___________________________________________________________________ 1. Summary 1.1 This report provides the Policy Board with a summary of the homeless and housing support pressures across Renfrewshire and an update on the measures that have been taken in response to the increase in homelessness in recent years and the associated increase in demand for housing support. 1.2 Details on the homelessness related issues in the recently announced Scottish Government Housing Emergency Action Plan are also provided as well as a summary of the 2024/25 performance statistics on homelessness, which were published by the Scottish Government in September. ___________________________________________________________________ 2. Recommendations It is recommended that the Communities and Housing Policy Board: 2.1 Note the continuing local and national pressures in relation to the increase in homeless applications and demand for housing support, and the impacts these currently have and may have in the future. 2.2 Note the measures being taken by the Council and partners to mitigate the impacts of these pressures. 2.3 Note the homelessness related issues within the Scottish Government’s Housing Emergency Action Plan announced in September and the possible impact this may have in Renfrewshire, as well as the recently published homeless performance indicators for 2024-2025.
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PUBLIC _________________________________________________________ 3. Background 3.1 As previously reported to the Policy Board, the annual number of statutorily homeless households in Renfrewshire generally remained consistent up until 2021. 3.2 There has however been a steady, stepped increase in homeless applications since 2020/21, with the annual number of applications in both 2023/24 and 2024/25 exceeding 1,000, and the likelihood of this occurring again in the current financial year. See Table 1 and 3.7, below: Table 1 – annual number of homeless applications Year Total annual number of homeless applications in Renfrewshire To end Sept 2025 579 2024/25 1027 2023/24 1026 2022/23 935 2021/22 909 2020/21 834 2019/20 874 3.3 This has led to a position where the current number of households being supported by Homeless Services (‘live cases’) is 489 - this figure was 340 at the same point in 2023 and 386 in 2024. 3.4 264 of these current homeless households have been provided with temporary accommodation, and the number of individuals currently in B&B is in single figures. The comparative figure for those requiring temporary accommodation at the same point in 2023 was 210 and 255 in 2024. (Note - not all of those who are statutorily homeless need to be provided with temporary accommodation; a proportion tend to be able to stay with friends/relatives until the Council sources settled accommodation for them). 3.5 It is a constant challenge to minimise the number placed in hotels (and the length of stay), and it can take up a considerable amount of officers’ time seeking to secure hotel accommodation on a day-to-day basis.
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PUBLIC The Scottish Government’s ‘Unsuitable Accommodation Order’ requires no- one to be placed in a hostel or B&B for more than 7 days, and, in line with many local authorities, we unavoidably breach this Order on occasions due to these demand pressures, as noted in previous reports to the Policy Board and within our Annual Assurance Statement. 3.6 The Policy Board has been provided with regular updates throughout the past three years which have detailed the reasons behind the increase in homelessness and social housing pressures, which all largely stem from: • the impacts during the COVID recovery years, • pressures on households arising from the cost-of-living crisis, • impact of the various migration and asylum humanitarian programmes – see section 6 of this report, • a general overall slowing down in the turnover rate of social rented housing, particularly in some RSLs, • pressures in the private rented sector, and • the impact on some local authorities (including Renfrewshire) since the suspension of the ‘local connection’ criteria for homeless applicants in December 2022. 3.7 Whilst the number of homeless applications has steadily increased - the first 6 months of 2025/26 has seen a 13% increase in applications compared to the first 6 months of 2024/25 - the most common reasons given for becoming homeless have remained the same, which are ‘asked to leave accommodation’ and ‘relationship breakdown (non-violent)’ which together account for over half of all applications in Renfrewshire. 3.8 13 local authorities declared local housing emergencies during 2023 and 2024, and the Scottish Government declared a National Housing Emergency in May 2024. 3.9 There are local authorities across Scotland who are continuing to experience significant pressures in meeting the demand for social housing. This has been reflected within the national homeless performance statistics published by the Scottish Government on 16 September 2025. Some of the key homelessness statistics which tend to have a higher profile are: • The number of households in temporary accommodation at 31 March 2025 in Renfrewshire was 254 which was an increase of 3% compared to 31 March 2024. Nationally there was an increase of 8%. • The number of children in temporary accommodation at 31 March 2025 in Renfrewshire was 25, which was a decrease of 29% from 31 March 2024. Nationally there was an increase of 1% from 2023/24 to 2024/25. • The average length of time spent in temporary accommodation for all homeless households in Renfrewshire was 131 days, compared to a national average of 238 days.
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PUBLIC • The number of homeless households moving into a social housing tenancy in Renfrewshire increased from 573 in 2023/24 to 658 in 2024/25. 3.10 A full report summarising all benchmarking information based on the published statistics and how we compare to other local authorities will be provided to the Policy Board later this year following an independent analysis of the data by ‘Scotland’s Housing Network’ which we are members of. 4 Scottish Government’s Housing Emergency Action Plan 4.1 The Cabinet Secretary announced the Scottish Government’s Housing Emergency Action Plan on 2 September 2025 which had three key objectives: ending children living in unsuitable accommodation, supporting the housing needs of vulnerable communities and maximising investment in Scotland’s housing sector. 4.2 Alongside measures which were more Planning related, the main homeless focussed actions included: • reducing the time children spend living in unsuitable temporary accommodation • consider ‘flipping’ temporary accommodation to permanent tenancies for families, with funding being made available to help replenish the stock of temporary accommodation • Further support for the use of the Housing First approach • the provision of funding for pilot schemes to use private sector leasing to reduce the use of B&B • controls to keep private rent affordable • increase in support for women experiencing domestic abuse • extending Rapid Rehousing Transition Plans into 2026/27 – see 5, below 4.3 More detail is required on how the Scottish Government propose to implement these recently announced actions in partnership with local authorities and other stakeholders, and the availability / apportionment of related funding. There is a degree of comfort however that within Renfrewshire we already have considerable experience in preventing children spending time in unsuitable temporary accommodation, applying the Housing First principles, flipping tenancies as well as piloting the use of private sector leasing. The steps taken here in Renfrewshire in relation to the homelessness measures within the national Action Plan and the impact they have will be covered in a future report to the Policy Board.
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PUBLIC 5. Rapid Rehousing Transition Plan for Renfrewshire 5.1 Progress with the implementation of Renfrewshire’s initial 5-year Rapid Rehousing Transition Plan (RRTP) 2019 – 2024 has been regularly reported to the Policy Board, and our RRTP has supported the upscaling of a Housing First approach to support those who are homeless from 13 at any one time in 2019 to 92 by September 2025, as well as minimising the time those who are homeless have to spend in temporary accommodation, and supporting the stepped increase in the number of lets to homeless applicants from the Council and RSL’s. 5.2 A previous Policy Board report advised that the Scottish Government were continuing to provide RRTP funding along the same lines as previous years to support the delivery of RRTPs for a further year in 2025/26, and the Scottish Governments Action Plan mentioned above advises that funding will again be provided in 2026/27. This should allow the continuation of established initiatives here in Renfrewshire which have been detailed in previous Policy Board reports and are in line with the RRTP guidance. These initiatives specifically focus on: • the deployment of temporary frontline posts to help resettle homeless applicants transitioning from temporary accommodation to new tenancies, • Upscaling and developing the Housing First approach both in-house with our Housing Support team and with partners such as Turning Point Scotland and Blue Triangle Housing Association. 6 Impact of migration / resettlement programmes 6.1 As previously reported, Renfrewshire has a strong track record in terms of supporting people who have come to live and settle in the area through different humanitarian programmes or routes, such as the resettlement schemes for Syrian and Afghan nationals and those displaced from Ukraine. 6.2 The Council, HSCP and partners have all played key roles in supporting people who arrived in Renfrewshire and there have now been a significant number of social rented tenancies provided to Ukrainian Displaced Persons (UDP) in particular by the Council and Registered Social Landlords, as well as UDP households being supported to access private rented sector tenancies or to live with hosts. 6.3 More people are now also being served with positive decisions on their refugee status whilst being accommodated in hotels across the UK. This is positive for the individuals concerned but has led to an increase in the number of people then presenting as homeless and / or seeking support and who are entitled to be provided with temporary accommodation and the right to apply for a social rented tenancy.
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PUBLIC 6.4 This has resulted in there being 78 homeless applications in Renfrewshire from refugees in 2024/25 – for context there were only 11 in 2020/21. 7 Housing (Scotland) Bill, 2024 7.1 A new Housing Bill was published by the Scottish Government in March 2024 which aims to, amongst other things, help prevent homelessness. The Bill was finally passed on 30 September 2025. 7.2 The new Act once implemented will introduce an ‘ask and act’ duty on public bodies, such as health boards, Police Scotland and RSL’s to ask about a person’s housing situation and act to avoid them becoming homeless wherever possible. 7.3 There remains a degree of concern that some of the provisions in the new Act may lead to an increase in referrals for help, advice, information and temporary accommodation to local authority homeless teams. 7.4 A report on all the new duties and any associated Guidance will be provided to a future Policy Board. 8 Renfrewshire’s Response to the housing pressures 8.1 As highlighted in both Table 1 and paragraph 3.7 above, Renfrewshire clearly continues to experience higher levels of homelessness and demand for housing support, and our Homeless and Housing Support Services and partners will continue to face significant challenges in providing both temporary and permanent accommodation for everyone in housing need on a timely basis and providing the support they require in line with our statutory duties. 8.2 Whilst the challenges are significant and are likely to remain so, there are still some positive steps being taken across Renfrewshire in terms of how the changes in the nature and scale of homelessness are being tackled. These are summarised in table 2, below: Table 2 ACTION TAKEN : IMPACT : Target of 55% of general lets by the Council to go to homeless applicants. This is on target for 2025/26, and has helped the Council to have annual stepped increases in the number of lets to those who are homeless, and respond in a way that was proportionate and minimised the impact on waiting list applicants
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PUBLIC ACTION TAKEN : IMPACT : Strong focus on lets to homeless applicants by RSL’s. The increase in the number of lets from RSL partners – despite lower turnover rates for some - has helped in the response to the increase in homelessness. This issue is reviewed at regular meetings with key RSL’s and at quarterly Housing Providers Forum meetings chaired by Head of Housing Services. Increase in stock of furnished temporary accommodation. The increase in the number of properties being used as temporary accommodation from 233 in 2019 to the current stock of 290 has helped to ensure the use of B&B is minimised and households with children are provided with furnished flats. Paused the closure of Thrushcraigs ‘staffed’ accommodation The planned closure of this facility as part of the Council’s regeneration programme would have had an adverse impact on our ability to provide furnished temporary accommodation. Implementation of a new rent charging policy for temporary accommodation. This has helped the Council to continue to provide good quality furnished temporary accommodation, set rents at an affordable level for all, and meet the actual costs of providing all the accommodation and related services. Outputs from the Single Voids Team The success to date of the Single Voids Team and the on-going focus on the void processes is helping to ensure properties are returned for let as quickly as possible. Additional temporary posts in Homeless Services and Housing Support team The deployment of additional frontline temporary staff focussing on co-ordinating temporary accommodation, providing housing options advice and housing support has helped to make best use of
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PUBLIC ACTION TAKEN : IMPACT : temporary accommodation, minimising the length of time people stay in temporary accommodation, and support those resettling from temporary accommodation into a settled tenancy Regular joint review meetings chaired by Head of Housing Services This has helped to maintain a strong focus across Housing Services on meeting the homelessness challenges and consider options to support the Council’s response. Actions following Scottish Government Housing Emergency Action Plan These are being developed as more information and details are provided from The Scottish Government, as mentioned in section 4 of this paper. 8.3 To date, the measures in table 2, above have largely enabled Renfrewshire to avoid being unable to respond properly to the needs of all of those who have nowhere to stay, however as this report and previous Policy Board Reports have highlighted this has been challenging and there remains a high degree of strain in the local social rented housing system. 8.4. Some local authorities have put in place time-limited adjustments to their allocation policies and / or implemented limits on the options for homeless applicants in terms of their choice of areas, number of offers and so on. This is a matter that is being kept under review whilst we closely monitor the impact of the measures outlined in Table 2, above. Further proposals may be brought forward for consideration at a future Policy Board meeting should the level of homelessness increase beyond a level that can be managed. 9. Summary 9.1 The demand for homeless and housing support services remains very high. 9.2 The reasons for this are varied, with no single cause or solution. 9.3 The range of actions which have been taken by the Council and partners to date have all helped to ensure that we continue to generally respond positively and promptly to those in housing need during the current pressures.
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PUBLIC 9.4 Renfrewshire’s RRTP and the continued funding from the Scottish Government helps to ensure a continued strong focus on: • providing suitable temporary accommodation, • giving the support that’s needed to those who are homeless, and • transitioning homeless applicants from temporary to settled accommodation as quickly as possible. 9.5 The Policy Board will continue to receive regular updates on the homelessness challenges in Renfrewshire, the implementation of the Scottish Government Housing Emergency Action Plan, and the impacts of the new Housing Act in relation to homeless prevention. _________________________________________________________________ Implications of the Report 1. Financial – None. 2. HR & Organisational Development – None. 3. Community/Council Planning – • Our Renfrewshire is fair - those who are homeless will be provided with housing options. • Building strong, safe and resilient communities – meeting the needs of those who are homeless and providing access to settled housing helps to support communities. • Tackling inequality, ensuring opportunities for all – those who are in housing need will be provided with settled housing options. • Working together to improve outcomes – we will be working with partners to improve outcomes for those in housing need. 4. Legal - None. 5. Property/Assets – None. 6. Information Technology – None. 7. Equality & Human Rights – (a) The Recommendations contained within this report have been assessed in relation to their impact on equalities and human rights. No negative impacts on equality groups or potential for infringement of individuals’ human rights have been identified arising from the recommendations contained in the report and it is for noting only 8. Health & Safety – None.
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PUBLIC 9. Procurement – None. 10. Risk - None. 11. Privacy Impact - None. 12. Climate Risk – None. 13. Children’s Rights – None. 14. Cosla Policy Position – None. _______________________________________________________ List of Background Papers (a) Background paper 1 ‘Homelessness & Housing Support – 2024/25’ Communities & Housing Policy Board on 13 May 2025 (b) Background paper 2 ‘Homelessness in Renfrewshire and Review of Rapid Rehousing Transition Plan’ Communities &Housing Policy Board on 29 October 2024 (c) Background paper 3 ‘Homelessness in Renfrewshire – Update ’Communities &Housing Policy Board on 21 May. 2024. (d) Background paper 4 ‘Homelessness in Renfrewshire – Update ’Communities & Housing Policy Board on 16 January 2024. (e) Background paper 5 ‘RRTP and Homelessness Update’, Communities & Housing Board on 25 October 2022. (f) Background paper 6 ‘ Homelessness Update’ Communities, Housing & Planning Policy Board on 15 March 2022. (g) Background paper 7 ‘Rapid Rehousing Transition Plan and Homelessness Update’ Communities, Housing & Planning Policy Board on 17 August 2021. (h) Background Paper 8 ‘Rapid Rehousing Transition Plan – funding update’ Communities, Housing & Planning Policy Board on 19 January 2021. ___________________________________________________________________ Author: Tom Irvine, Homeless & Housing Support Services Manager. Tom.irvine@renfrewshire.gov.uk