More than 50 people died while homeless in Edinburgh last year

Some 56 homeless people in Edinburgh reportedly died in 2025, according to council data released under Freedom of Information legislation.

People in temporary accommodation made up 37 of the deaths, while those out of temporary accommodation made up 19.

The causes of the 56 total deaths were not reported in the response, but it is understood that at least some were due to natural causes.

Leading housing charity Shelter said the most vulnerable in society paid the price when homeless services “fail to meet [their] legal duties”.

But Edinburgh’s homelessness convener said the council was working hard to provide “as much support as possible” along with partners to those at risk of homelessness.

Edinburgh Council commissions temporary accommodation for people presenting as homeless from a range of sources.

Additionally, several charities in the city provide hostel spaces and other forms of emergency accommodation for those who present as homeless to them.

Shelter Scotland assistant director Gordon Llewellyn-MacRae said: “The number of people dying while experiencing homelessness is truly devastating.

“It shows the direct relationship between the housing emergency and the impact on people’s lives.

“When homelessness services fail to meet its legal duties, it is the people who need our support, medical care and compassion who pay the price. This cannot be tolerated.”

He added that whichever party wins the coming Holyrood elections needed to take a ‘new approach’ and fund social housebuilding on a large scale across the country.

Labour councillor and homelessness convener Tim Pogson said: “Over the past six years, the number of households in temporary accommodation has risen by more than 80% to 6430 households.

“This increase helps explain why the city’s homeless death rate has also, regrettably, increased. With more homeless households than elsewhere in Scotland, it’s reflected in a higher number of deaths in Edinburgh.

“In many cases, the cause of death is not known due to patient confidentiality. However, work continues with partner agencies to provide as much support as possible to those who may be at risk, especially those with additional health needs. Preventing people from losing their homes wherever possible remains a priority.”

He added that the city had recently committed to £1.6bn in investment in housing, including £580m in ‘suitable’ temporary accommodation.

Cllr Pogson further said the council was continuing to make its case to the Scottish Government for more support.

Data from the National Records of Scotland published in March estimated that 40 homeless people died in Edinburgh in 2024.

The data also found that Edinburgh had the highest rate of deaths among homeless people in Scotland that year.

On the night of September 4 last year, a council-commissioned survey found 68 people sleeping rough in the city.

A report on the survey, which was carried out by Simon Community Scotland, stated it covered the city centre, and did not reach outlying areas.

It found that rough sleepers often congregated near places of worship, ‘likely because those places felt safer’.

It added that 32 rough sleepers had been identified as male, five as female, and 31 as unknown.

The report stated that identifying the gender of rough sleepers during the survey was difficult as many were bedded down in sleeping bags and surveyors did not want to wake them.

The survey is run twice a year, and draws participants from a range of organisations, as well as outside volunteers.