Key facts
- Failure to support Scotland's most disadvantaged costs at least £5.8bn a year, according to analysis.
- The cost to Scotland's NHS is an estimated £92.8m annually.
- Expenses relating to homelessness are estimated at £530m per year.
- The annual cost of severe and multiple disadvantage (SMD) to Scotland's economy is estimated at £2.2bn.
- Homeless Network Scotland is launching 'The Level' protocol to improve joined-up working.
- The Level is supported by over 50 organisations, including Public Health Scotland and Citizens Advice Scotland.
Failing to support Scotland's most disadvantaged individuals incurs an annual cost of at least £5.8 billion, according to new analysis commissioned by Homeless Network Scotland and carried out by WPI Economics consultancy. The research highlights the significant economic and public service costs associated with severe and multiple disadvantage (SMD), which affects people experiencing issues such as homelessness, substance dependency, offending, mental ill health, and domestic violence.
The analysis projected costs across eight categories, estimating the annual cost to Scotland's NHS at £92.8 million due to increased demand for healthcare services. Expenses related to homelessness were estimated at £530 million per year, while the largest proportion of the total figure, £2.2 billion, comes from the annual cost of SMD to Scotland's economy.
The report advocates for a more preventative and joined-up approach, moving away from fragmented and reactive support. Homeless Network Scotland is set to launch 'The Level,' a national protocol intended to provide a toolkit for implementing integrated working practices. Maggie Brunjes, chief executive of Homeless Network Scotland, stated that the current system's design, built around single issues rather than interconnected needs, leads to significant costs.
Scotland's social justice and housing secretary, Shirley-Anne Somerville, affirmed the government's commitment to ensuring people receive the right help at the right time, focusing on preventing crises through earlier intervention and a whole-person approach across public services. The Level protocol is supported by over 50 organisations, including Public Health Scotland and Citizens Advice Scotland, and is funded by The Robertson Trust.