COUNCIL bosses said they are not complacent as research warned homelessness is predicted to rise by more than 50 per cent in the next 25 years.

If current economic policies continue unchanged, the number of rough sleepers across Scotland is expected to nearly double in that time from 800 to 1,500, while in the shorter term the number of people in unsuitable temporary accommodation is forecast to rise by a third in the next decade.

Rates of people sofa-surfing due to lack of a permanent home are set to rise by almost a quarter (23 per cent) in the next 10 years, the research by Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh for homelessness charity Crisis also found.

A West Dunbartonshire Council spokesman said they were reducing homelessness but not taking that for granted.

He said: “The council recently approved a three-year strategy for tackling homelessness which aims to build on our recent success on this front.

"Over the last three years, we have seen an 18 per cent reduction in homelessness in West Dunbartonshire. However, we cannot afford to be complacent.

"We are determined to offer every support possible for people who find themselves in the position of being homeless and, just as importantly, we want to help prevent people from becoming homeless in the first place.”

The national report stated there are 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.

In response to the report's findings, Crisis is calling on the public to join its Everybody In campaign aimed at ending the worst forms of homelessness.

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."