Region’s homelessness figures start to drop

HOMELESSNESS applications in Dumfries and Galloway are falling for the first time in years, the latest figures reveal.

New statistics shows that 219 homeless applications were received during the third quarter of 2025/26, a drop of 17 percent compared to the same period the previous year when 264 were recorded.

Early indications suggest that year on year from 2024/25 to 2025/26, the region is looking at a nine percent drop in applications overall.

A report for councillors states: “This decline in homeless applications aligns with national trends across Scotland, although Dumfries and Galloway had been slower to experience this reduction.

“It is anticipated that the region’s figures will now align more closely with national patterns.”

Last year, this region was described as an “outlier” because there were still high numbers of homelessness applications as the rest of Scotland started to decline.

The council report explains: “The current figures suggest the region is now following the broader national trend.

“This is seen as a positive development, but it was noted the data is not yet verified for quarter four and should be treated with caution until finalised.”

However, there remains an ongoing crisis in temporary accommodation. Council bosses admit the region still faces “significant challenges related to temporary accommodation.”

Temporary housing units are consistently at full capacity and the council is still putting people up in hotel accommodation, leading to breaches of the Unsuitable Accommodation Order. These breaches are being monitored by the Scottish Housing Regulator and the 2025/26 figures were: quarter one – 244, quarter two – 252, and quarter three – 234.

The areas facing the greatest pressure remain Dumfries and Stranraer, along with Annandale and Eskdale — particularly Annan.

Stewartry continues to record the lowest number of applications, while Upper Nithsdale sees minimal demand.