THE number of homeless people living in Scotland is predicted to more than double in the coming decades unless the Scottish Government acts, new research has claimed.

A study has predicted that the number of rough sleepers on city streets will rise from 800 to 1,500 by 2041, while many more people will be living in temporary accommodation, homeless shelters or couch surfing than currently do today.

The findings have been revealed in a report by academics at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh for homelessness charity Crisis, which states there are currently 11,800 people across Scotland either sleeping rough, staying in hostels, living in unsuitable temporary accommodation, sofa-surfing, sleeping in cars, or staying in squats or refuges.

Analysis indicates this figure is expected to rise to 12,200 by 2021 before accelerating to 18,100 - a rise of 53 per cent on current levels - in 2041.

The report estimates that at any one time in 2016, across Scotland 800 people spent one night sleeping rough, 5,200 households were sofa-surfing and 2,100 households were living in unsuitable temporary accommodation.

A further 2,300 households were staying in hostels while 1,400 households were living in other circumstances, including squats, women's refuges, winter night shelters, sleeping in tents, cars or public transport.

Jon Sparkes, chief executive of Crisis, said: "This year Crisis marks its 50th anniversary, but that's little cause for celebration. We still exist because homelessness still exists, and today's report makes it only too clear that unless we take action as a society, the problem is only going to get worse with every year that passes.

"That means more people sleeping on our streets, in doorways or bus shelters, on the sofas of friends or family, or getting by in hostels and B&Bs. In order to tackle this, it's crucial we first understand the scale of the problem."

He praised the Scottish Government's commitment to build 50,000 new affordable homes by 2021, of which 35,000 will be for social rent - which he said would help slow the rise in homelessness in the short-term.

But he added that more must be done to head off the looming crisis, adding: "Now is the time for action and we look forward to working with the Scottish Government to find solutions and bring these forecasts down. We can't do this in isolation though, which is why we're calling on the public to back our Everybody In campaign and help us build a movement for change."

Scottish Liberal Democrat housing spokesperson Caron Lindsay said that more homes must be made available for those facing homelessness.

She said: “Homelessness destroys people’s lives. The disruption, insecurity and stress that this causes is immense so to see figures on this scale is a national disgrace.

“When the SNP Government fail to get to grips with the housing crisis they fail these people and their families.

"There would, of course, be more houses for social rent if the SNP had not downgraded the target for social house building during the last Parliament.

“That’s why Scottish Liberal Democrats will continue to press SNP ministers to increase the number of homes for social rent, and seek to overturn callous Conservative social security measures which put the most vulnerable families at greater risk of homelessness."

Scottish Government Housing Minister Kevin Stewart said: "We have some of the strongest rights for homeless people in the world, which has already led to falling homelessness in Scotland in recent years, despite challenges such as the UK Government's welfare cuts and benefit cap.

"However we agree with Crisis that there is more to do. Our priorities include addressing homelessness for people with more complex needs, who may be rough sleeping and for whom simply providing accommodation is not always enough, and ensuring temporary accommodation plays a positive role in improving outcomes for homeless households."

He pledged to continue working with other organisations to tackle homelessness.