New Homeless Statistics published today by the Scottish Government paint a clear picture of the need to address why so many young people are becoming homeless, and the importance of utilising prevention methods and looking at what we can do to support those already experiencing homelessness. 

Young people are once again overrepresented in the homeless statistics, with 16-24-year-olds accounting for 22% of homeless applications. While 18–24-year-olds make up just 10% of the population they account for 20% of homeless cases. 

We continue to see a steady increase in homeless applications by young people, rising to a shocking 9,195 applications across 2025-26, up by 10% since 2021-22. 

Of those who became homeless, 6,585 did so following through conflicts in the home or being asked to leave, with an alarming 11% experiencing violence or abuse. 

This cannot be ignored. Young peoples’ prospects are not improving at the rate they should be. Without early intervention, we will continue to see rises and more young people at risk of homelessness. 

Rock Trust’s Upstream Scotland scheme is a school-based, early intervention programme that identifies young people at risk of homelessness and connects them with the right support, before it starts. Through the expansion of Upstream we hope to support more Scottish young people to remain safely at home before they hit crisis.  

“The new released statistics only highlight that young people and their families require support to navigate the teenage years and beyond. We need to identify and offer preventative support at a much earlier stage if we are to stop the number of homeless young people increasing further. Children and young people deserve a safe and stable place in which to grow up and we can only provide this if we build more social and affordable housing and provide young people with a clear and supported pathway home. ” Kate Polson, CEO

Support young people need

We can clearly see from the statistics shared today that younger homeless applicants are most likely to require support with basic housing/living skills, be living with mental health problems or have a learning disability.  

This is something we see echoed through our Youth Housing Hubs in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Perth, as well as our project teams.  Our teams support young people in developing the skills  they need to manage a home, navigating handling bills, maintenance, and budgeting, as well as supporting emotional and mental wellbeing. 

We know that experiencing homelessness can be traumatic and isolating. This is mirrored in the statistics as 62% of young people identified with a support need cite Mental Health problems. Our Health and Wellbeing Hub offer art therapy, counselling and creative wellbeing groups to help young people process past experiences, manage their emotions, learn new coping mechanisms, and set goals.