Ryan Mitchell is one of more than 50,000 people in Scotland recorded as homeless.
Currently living in temporary accommodation, he attends a recovery cafe in Dundee every week.
But between June and September of this year, Ryan found himself spending his nights outside, lying on an old church pew.
“It’s dark, very dark. You’re going to a dark place, sitting in the cold at night, things running through your head,” the 43-year-old said.
“It’s hard to sleep outside, it’s really, really hard to sleep outside. You always need to be alert.
“I slept for a wee while and if anyone walked past, I was awake again.”
Dundee has seen the highest spike of homelessness applications per population in Scotland, with a rise of 18% recorded between 2024 and 2025.
STV NewsOne temporary accommodation provider in the city told STV News there’s increasing demand on local services.
“We’re seeing the number of referrals we receive, increase,” said Shirish Patel, chief executive officer at Dundee Survival Group.
“We’ve got more turnover, we tend to have people stay three to four months at a time.
“As soon as a unit comes available, we’re getting a referral within hours.”
‘It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my entire life‘
Being in temporary accommodation, Ryan is still considered homeless.
He says he’s now in a much more positive place, but his time sleeping rough has taken its toll.
“It felt like I was awake 24/7,” said Ryan.
STV NewsAsked if his experience has changed him, he replied: “It has. It really has changed me.
“How can I put it – I’m not myself. I’ve not got comforts like a house or anything.
“It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my entire life.”
Charities have described Scotland’s housing system as “broken” with 17,240 households stuck in temporary accommodation.
The Scottish Government says the new housing bill passed last month aims to revolutionise homelessness prevention through powers like rent controls.
Housing secretary Màiri McAllan said: “Scotland has led the UK on taking action to end homelessness and in providing strong rights for tenants.
“Last month we passed the Housing (Scotland) Bill which aims to revolutionise homelessness prevention with ask and act duties on certain public bodies to ask about housing situations and to act to prevent people from losing their home.
“It also allows us to implement rents controls and improve standards in rented housing.”
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