In November 2023, a housing emergency was declared in Edinburgh. As of January 2026, this emergency status has not been retracted. The most recent statistics from March 2025 found the number of households assessed as homeless in Edinburgh to be 7, 866. Of this number, 2,980 are children. This is part of a steady increase in homelessness in this city over the past decade. The issue of homelessness in the city of Edinburgh is critical, but what shape does it take, and how is it being addressed?
The rise of rough sleeping, defined as sleeping in open air spaces (tents, streets, doorways etc.) and places not designed for habitation (barns, sheds, cars, etc.) is a critical issue throughout the year, in the winter season, it brings acute risks to life and health. As the climate crisis makes the weather more extreme and unpredictable, rough sleeping is becoming increasingly dangerous. The Single Homelessness Problem organisation (SHP) states that Frostbite, hypothermia, and the fear of not surviving the night are real risks facing the homeless population.
Notably, rough sleeping is not the only form of homelessness. Under the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987: “a person should be treated as homeless, even if they have accommodation, if it would not be reasonable for them to continue to stay in it.” The council prioritises ‘vulnerable groups’ such as 16 or 17 years old and care experienced under 21-year-olds.
The Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Convener for Edinburgh City Council, Cllr Tim Pogson, stated, “the scale and pace of demand mean we are still struggling to provide sufficient homes suitable to meet needs of individuals and families across the city.” Further noting that Edinburgh faces unique challenges with the fastest growing population and the lowest amount of social housing per head of population in Scotland with only 14 per cent social housing compared to a national average of 23 per cent.
It is clear that the Edinburgh City Council are struggling with the homelessness crisis in the city. The council provides some services on their own account, although it primarily works through external providers, with third sector organisations playing a central role in tackling the homelessness crisis.
Bethany Christian Trust work alongside the Edinburgh City council to deliver the welcome centre. This Rapid Re-accommodation opened in 2023 and provides emergency accommodation with support to anyone who has no alternative accommodation and needs somewhere safe to stay. The services at the welcome centre include individual rooms, three meals a day, and opportunities to engage with professional services (NHS staff, harm reduction, etc.) This service helps provide emergency care, however, there are many more organisations in Edinburgh working to end the housing challenge.
Some other notable organisations include Crisis Skylight Edinburgh, who work directly with people experiencing or at risk of homelessness. They provide practical one to one support to help people access benefits, health care services and employment opportunities. Edinburgh City Mission operates a van providing soup, food, hot drinks, blankets, and clothes throughout the city at night. The charity is designed to target and assist those who are homeless and vulnerable. Other charities, such as shelter, fresh start and social bite also play a significant role in combatting the crisis in Edinburgh.
It is significant that the majority of the work is reactive, acting to help those who are already homeless. Tim Pogson commented on this, stating, “preventing people from becoming homeless in the first place and helping tenants to avoid reaching crisis point is central to our approach.” The Rapid Rehousing Transition Plan (RRTR) is Edinburgh city councils’ strategy for tackling and eradicating homelessness. It is aligned around the goals of preventing homelessness, providing suitable temporary and settled accommodation as quickly as possible and reducing the number of people sleeping rough. It also aims to target key transition points such as leaving the hospital or prison.
Despite the efforts and actions of both the Edinburgh city council and the many organisations that operate within Edinburgh seeking to end the homelessness crisis, the crisis is still not over and is not forecast to get easier. The current Strategic Housing Investment Plan identifies the need for 9,500 new houses to be built by 2029 to keep up with projected population increases in Edinburgh. Adaption Scotland predicts that with the current climate crisis, winters in Scotland are going to become increasingly wetter and we will see more and more unpredictable weather. The homelessness crisis does not seem to be alleviating, and it will be a challenge for all actors and stakeholders.
Illustration by Jessica Bolevin for The Student