Nearly half of Scots believe homeless people could find somewhere to live if they tried harder, according to a report published yesterday.
The survey also revealed that 61% of Scots wrongly believe most homeless people sleep rough, while more than one-fifth think those who become homeless do so because they drink too much.
Housing Minister Stewart Maxwell said the findings, contained in a Scottish Social Attitudes survey, proved that "a number of preconceptions remain as a barrier to understanding".
"For example, a common view appears to be that most homeless people sleep rough at some point," he said.
"I think it's important to recognise that although, sadly, a minority of homeless people will end up on the streets, the problem of homelessness affects a much greater number of people who are in need of a home of their own and cannot obtain one."
Yesterday's survey showed that 45% of Scots agree with the statement that "most homeless people could find somewhere to live if they really tried".
Some 21% of those surveyed agreed that "most people end up being homeless simply because they drink too much", while 18% thought homelessness was mainly caused by drug abuse.
Other parts of the survey showed that 35% of Scots thought people declare themselves homeless in order to get a council house, although only 11% believed homeless people cause problems in their area.
When asked how they would feel about homeless people being housed near them, one-third said they would be uncomfortable, with the same proportion saying the prospect did not bother them.
Archie Stoddart, director of the homelessness charity Shelter Scotland, said: "This research confirms that a great many stereotypes exist around homelessness. Yet, most of them have no grounding in reality.
"Last year, over 41,000 households were assessed as homeless, and the majority of them will never have slept rough on the streets."
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