Scotland's homelessness applications reached a record high of 44,443 in 2025-26, with the rise primarily driven by a surge in applications from refugees and migrants with leave to remain in the UK. This 40 per cent year-on-year increase in refugee and migrant applications, combined with record numbers of children in temporary accommodation, is placing significant strain on Scotland's social housing system and has prompted calls from political parties for government action.

Applications from refugees and those with leave to remain reached 6,995 in 2025-26, a 39.6 per cent increase from 5,010 the previous year and up 272 per cent since 2021-22. The burden is concentrated in Scotland's largest cities, with Glasgow accounting for 3,545 of these applications (a 28 per cent rise) and Edinburgh for 1,645. Across all demographics, applications from those with African ethnicity increased by 123 per cent, whilst applications from those with white Scottish ethnicity declined by 5 per cent. A record 10,715 children are in temporary accommodation, and nearly 3,000 households were sleeping rough.