Homelessness explosion sees record numbers claiming to sleep rough in Scotland's biggest city

Get the latest Daily Record breaking news on WhatsApp

Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info

Join us on WhatsApp

The homelessness explosion in Scotland is set to result in record numbers of people claiming to have slept on streets.

New figures show that in Scotland’s biggest city, 929 people have claimed to have slept rough this year - up 28 per cent in just six weeks from September 18, as sub zero temperatures hit Glasgow.

The numbers, released in a Freedom of Information request, also show that, for the first time, more than 8,000 people were living in temporary accommodation in Glasgow - up 4% in the same period.

During the same six week snapshot, the number of homelessness applications went up by 20%, adding pressure on an already impossible situation.

The outrageous figures - which follow equally alarming increases for the previous six weeks - underline that homelessness is out of control, with housebuilding failing to keep pace with growing demand and families being stuck in temporary homes.

Campaigner Sean Clerkin, of the Scottish Tenants’ Association, said: “These horrific homeless statistics in Glasgow measured by all metrics are showing record numbers of homeless people and children living in temporary accommodation and record numbers of homeless people sleeping rough on the streets of Glasgow.

“We are near the point of no return unless the SNP- Green led Glasgow City Council and SNP led Scottish Government provide more emergency funding now to tackle this homeless disaster in Scotland’s largest city. “

The FOI response from Glasgow City Council also showed that between September 18 and November 1, the number of children in temporary accommodation at rose to 3252 - up 3% in the six week period.

The number of people in hotel/bed and breakfast accommodation for the year rose to 1,929 - up 6.8%

Homeless women in such unsuitable accommodation rose to 353 - up 9%.

And the number of homeless families with children living in hotel/bed and breakfast accommodation by November 1 was 107 - up 3.8% from September.

The flood of vulnerable people into homelessness meant the Unsuitable Accommodation Order, which is meat to guarantee a legal right to a decent home to families, was breached 3,426 for the year up to Nov 1 - up 13% from September 18.

And up to Nov 1, 2161 kids had been counted in B and B accommodation - up 18% in just six weeks.

Sean Clerkin said: “We therefore need more funding for homeless services now in Glasgow to provide better wraparound services to help homeless people tackle drug and alcohol addiction and improve mental health care for homeless people.

“More funding is also needed to provide homeless women with women only halfway accommodation with a view to rapidly rehouse them into permanent social rented homes.

“We also need the affordable housing supply programme budget to be fully reinstated at the forthcoming Scottish Budget on 4th December 2024 so that more social rented homes can be built for homeless families with children in Glasgow instead of building mid market rented homes in the city.”

Shelter Scotland Director Alison Watson said:

Shelter Scotland director Alison Watson said: "These figures are alarming, but unfortunately not surprising. The reality of Scotland’s housing emergency is that more and more people are living in miserable conditions, having their housing rights ignored and becoming trapped in a broken homelessness system. This is unacceptable, and yet it continues every day.

“The situation in Glasgow has continued to deteriorate since it declared a housing emergency last year; without more social homes that trend will inevitably continue.

“It’s clear there’s work to be done at every level of government to address the housing emergency, but local authorities can’t be expected to pick up the pieces on their own. The Scottish Government must use the upcoming budget to give failing local homelessness services the funding they need to deliver and invest in the social homes Scotland so desperately needs.”

Maeve McGoldrick, head of policy and communications for homelessness charity Crisis in Scotland, said: “These figures are deeply worrying.

“Rough sleeping is incredibly dangerous at any time of year, but with temperatures dropping there is a very real risk to life if accommodation is not provided for those who need it.

“It is absolutely vital that support is in place for those facing the prospect of street homelessness. Councils are breeching their legal duties by not providing it.

“We need urgent action from both local and national government to ensure no one is forced to sleep on the street this winter. Scotland needs a wide range of action to end homelessness, but in the short term, protecting lives must be a top priority.”

A spokesperson for Glasgow City Council said its statistics on rough sleeping are on self-reports and may be exaggerated because of that.

The misery of street sleeping and begging laid bare as Christmas approaches on Glasgow's Buchanan Street

Scotland's most prestigious shopping street was packed with shoppers yesterday - and with homeless people begging for cash.

Several of those on Buchanan Street who spoke to the Daily Record told of sleeping on pavements in recent weeks.

The chaotic lives of those affected by drug addiction and mental health problems, is often the catalyst for rough sleeping.

Robert Munro, 77, lost his tenancy for a flat earlier this year and now sleeps in an old caravan.

But he said he has slept on the pavement in Glasgow on many occasions.

“He said: “I lost my tenancy and got chuckled out and I’ve been passed around from one council to another, without getting a proper home. So I’m in an old caravan.

“I come into Glasgow and try to beg for cash to get a deposit for a private let but even with that I might struggle because of references. I struggle with my mental health and I don’t really know who to turn to.”
He added: “At every turn I get told there’s not enough houses. I think they need to get that sorted out.”

Ross Baillie, 27, was released from a prison term on November 1 and slept on the street that night.

He said: “I‘ve been on a vicious circle of taking drugs and low committing crimes and now I have a place in a hostel, which is a worse standard of living than inside.

“I was put on methadone I prison and I desperately want to get off it but that’s harder to do than you can imagine.”

One man begging outside Sainsbury’s on Buchanan Street told how he was has been living from day to day, seeking emergency accommodation but often ending up in an alley.

He said: “I lost my flat and I’ve been moving around, splitting time between rough sleeping and hostels.

“Sometimes I’m told there’s no room and I have to phone back later but I will often just set up a sleeping bag on the street because it’s a huge hassle just arranging rooms for the night.

“It’s getting too cold for the streets though.”

Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!

Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.

You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.

No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.

All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in!

If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'.

We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like.

To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.

If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.

Many of those who report as street sleeping have complex needs, some refuse support and some have no recourse to public funds.

A spokeswoman for the city’s Health and Social Care Partnership said: “As the FOI response shows, the number of self-reported rough sleepers is significantly higher than the data we receive on a weekly basis from the Simon Community which is taken from their street team who engage with rough sleepers on a daily basis.

“We constantly monitor and respond to this data and associated intelligence while the true reflection is substantially lower. We are confident on the accuracy of the Simon Community’s weekly reporting.

“However, the reality is we are continuing to deal with increasing numbers of people coming to Glasgow to access our services and, in turn, increasing numbers of people being accommodated in unsuitable accommodation.

“It is well documented that the housing system in Glasgow is experiencing extreme pressure. We do work hard to prioritise families with children and get them into permanent accommodation as quickly as possible, with 92% currently being accommodated in furnished accommodation in the community.”

Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here.

Story SavedYou can find this story in  My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.