Social Things · Scotland
Housing and homelessness
If you have nowhere to sleep tonight, start here.
National helplines
Your council
Hours vary — ask for the out-of-hours team
The helplines on this page are shut. Your council's duty is not. If you have nowhere to sleep tonight they have a legal duty to help you, and it does not stop at 5pm or at weekends. Councils should have an out-of-hours number for exactly this — ring the council and ask for whoever handles homelessness out of hours.
If you're homeless or have nowhere safe to stay (opens in a new tab)Also worth knowing
The Salvation Army
They don't publish their opening hours — worth trying, but don't count on it being answered.
The Salvation Army runs homelessness services across the UK, from drop-in centres to accommodation — their Lifehouses and night shelters. Their finder takes your postcode and shows the nearest one, with its address and phone number. It doesn't list opening hours, so ring before you set out.
Go to The Salvation Army (opens in a new tab)Checked on 17 July 2026 against their own page — The Salvation Army (opens in a new tab).
Shelter Scotland
0808 800 4444Closed now · Opens tomorrow at 9am
Covers Scotland only.
Mon–Fri, 9am–5pm. Closed on bank holidays. Free from landlines and most mobiles.
Free expert advice on homelessness, eviction and your rights. Note the hours — this line is shut overnight and at weekends. If you have nowhere to sleep tonight and they're closed, your council still has a legal duty to help you, and it does not stop at 5pm.
Go to Shelter Scotland (opens in a new tab)Checked on 11 July 2026 against their own page — Shelter Scotland (opens in a new tab).
Different help, but often needed too
Crisis Grant — Scottish Welfare Fund
Covers Scotland only.
They don't publish their opening hours — worth trying, but don't count on it being answered.
A grant from your council to cover an emergency, including money for food or heating. It's tax free and you don't pay it back. You apply through your own council — find yours below.
Go to Crisis Grant — Scottish Welfare Fund (opens in a new tab)Checked on 11 July 2026 against their own page — Crisis Grant — Scottish Welfare Fund (opens in a new tab).
Home Energy Scotland
0808 808 2282Closed now · Opens tomorrow at 8am
Covers Scotland only.
Mon–Fri, 8am–8pm. Sat, 9am–5pm. Bank holidays, 9am–5pm.
Free, impartial advice on heating your home and cutting fuel bills, including the Warmer Homes Scotland scheme if you're struggling to keep warm.
Go to Home Energy Scotland (opens in a new tab)Checked on 11 July 2026 against their own page — Home Energy Scotland (opens in a new tab).
What's nearby
Give us a postcode and we'll show you what's closest.
We know of housing and homelessness services across the UK — but “nearby” isn't a question we can answer without knowing where, and handing you a list of the whole country would help nobody.