Homeless people in the north-east are still sleeping rough on the streets before seeking help, a new study has found.
The Scottish Government report looked into all aspects of homelessness across the country.
In particular, the study found instances of “rough sleeping” had dropped in the past year.
However, it also noted that Aberdeen was placed second-highest in terms of the percentage of homeless applicants sleeping rough, with 103 cases, or 7% of all applications in the city.
Aberdeenshire was third with 70 cases and 6%, while and Moray is in fifth with 30 cases and 5% of all applications.
Charity Aberdeen Cyrenians said there were particular challenges around homeless accommodation in the north-east.
Scott Baxter, deputy chief executive, said: “I wouldn’t say there was a problem with intervention in the area.
“It’s definitely an accommodation problem, even if you’re talking for just one night.
Aberdeen City Council say recent changes had helped the authority to improve its service.
Councillor Neil Cooney, communities, housing and infrastructure convener said: “A restructure from April 2014 has led to a more responsive service which ensures all applicants are now interviewed on the day of presentation.
“We understand this enhanced process will have impacted upon the statistics, nonetheless we remain committed to preventing and alleviating rough sleeping and endeavour to make services as accessible as possible.”
A spokesman for Moray Council added: “These statistics are provided by applicants themselves when they present to the council as homeless and are not validated.
“However, if they are accurate, it will be seen elsewhere in the same report that the number of applicants in Moray who said they had spent the previous night sleeping rough has actually fallen by 19% over the last five years and the council is working hard to reduce that further still.”
The figures are contained in a report titled Operation of the Homeless Persons Legislation in Scotland: 2014-15.