FOI Request - Homelessness, Rent Arrears and Financial Support Data
Request 101003961747
1. How many homelessness applications or presentations were made to your authority by applicants aged 18–40 in 2024–25?
2. Of those applications, how many cited each of the following as the main reason for the application (as recorded in the HL1 return)? Main reason categories:
a) Asked to leave by family or friends (non-violent)
b) Violent or abusive dispute within the household — including domestic abuse
c) Non-violent dispute with neighbours or other persons
d) Relationship breakdown (other than above)
e) Termination of private rented tenancy — due to rent arrears
f) Termination of private rented tenancy — for other reasons (e.g. landlord selling, end of tenancy)
g) Termination of local authority tenancy — due to rent arrears
h) Termination of registered social landlord tenancy — due to rent arrears
i) Termination of social tenancy — for other reasons
j) Mortgage default or repossession
k) Overcrowding
l) Leaving institution — including custody, hospital, looked-after child placement, or other
m) Emergency (e.g. fire, flood)
n) Other reason
3. Of those applications from applicants aged 18–40 in 2024–25 where an additional contributing factor was recorded, how many cited "financial difficulties, debt or unemployment" as an additional contributing factor?
4. Of those applications from applicants aged 18–40 in 2024–25, how many included a household member who had been previously looked after by a local authority (care leaver) as a child?
5. Of those applications from applicants aged 18–40 in 2024–25, how many had "financial difficulties" recorded as a support need (as recorded in the HL1 support needs field)?
Temporary Accommodation
6. How many households with a main applicant aged 18–40 were in temporary accommodation provided by your authority as of 31 March 2025?
7. Of those households, how many had been in temporary accommodation for more than 12 months as of 31 March 2025?
Financial Support
8. How many Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs) were awarded by your authority in 2024–25 to applicants aged 18–40? If an age breakdown is not available, please provide the total number of DHP awards made in 2024–25, broken down where possible by purpose:
a) Removal of the Spare Room Subsidy (bedroom tax) mitigation
b) Benefit cap mitigation
c) Local Housing Allowance shortfall
d) Other housing cost shortfall, rent deposit or moving costs
Note: We recognise that bedroom tax and benefit cap DHPs in Scotland are effectively guaranteed once eligibility is confirmed. We are particularly interested in categories c and d, which reflect discretionary financial support decisions most directly relevant to this research. However, any breakdown your authority is able to provide is welcomed.
9. How many referrals to debt advice or money guidance services were made by your housing or homelessness team in 2024–25?
Policy and Practice Questions
10. At what stage in the homelessness assessment process does your authority first offer or refer an applicant to money advice, debt support or financial capability services? Please select the most accurate description:
a) At or before the initial application stage
b) During the assessment and investigation stage
c) During active case management
d) Only after the case is closed or a duty discharged
e) Not systematically offered, depends on the individual case
11. Does your authority have a dedicated financial inclusion, money advice or financial capability service embedded within, or formally linked to, your housing or homelessness team? (Yes / No / Signposting only to external services)
12. Does your authority provide or commission financial education or money management support specifically for care-experienced young people as part of their pathway out of the care system? If yes, please briefly describe the provision.
13. Does your authority systematically record whether financial literacy or debt knowledge gaps were a contributing factor in a homelessness application? (Yes / No / Not systematically)
14. Does your authority record whether a benefit delay, sanction or benefit system issue was a contributing factor in a homelessness application? If yes, please provide available figures for 2024–25.