BREAKING: Glasgow’s homelessness crisis escalates as shocking new data reveals over 9,044 people are currently homeless in the city. This alarming figure, reported just ahead of New Year’s Day, highlights the urgent need for action amid escalating poverty and inadequate housing.
According to a Sunday Mail investigation, 3,329 children are among those living in temporary accommodation, marking an unprecedented high. The crisis extends beyond Glasgow, affecting cities like Edinburgh, Dundee, Stirling, and Aberdeen, with the charity Shelter estimating that a new household is becoming homeless every 15 minutes.
Michael O’Neill, deputy CEO at the Talbot Association, Glasgow’s largest provider of homeless accommodation, stated, “The beds are always full. Our emergency accommodation is overwhelmed due to rising demand compounded by funding cuts.” He emphasized the profound impact of trauma and mental health issues on those affected, stating, “We see a lot of traumatized individuals.”
Voices from the streets paint a grim picture this winter. Nadeem Lal, a 44-year-old Glasgow native, shared, “I know my choices have brought me here. My addiction problems stemmed from abuse in childhood.” Another homeless individual lamented, “I’d rather be out on the streets than stuck in temporary accommodation. It’s the wrong environment for me.”
Glasgow’s homelessness rates are the highest in Scotland, with 223 out of every 10,000 households classified as homeless, compared to a national average of 133. The latest figures come from Glasgow City Council and were disclosed to housing advocate Sean Clerkin.
“Glasgow is experiencing a homelessness catastrophe,” Clerkin stated, highlighting the distressing conditions faced by many. “The hellhole hotels and bed and breakfast accommodations currently cost over £37 million — funds that could be better spent on quality housing.”
The situation is further complicated by a rising influx of asylum seekers requiring housing, which the council attributes to the Home Office’s policy changes. As of mid-November, 5,678 refugees with legal status were living in temporary accommodations in Glasgow.
Scottish Labour housing spokesman Mark Griffin criticized the Scottish National Party (SNP) government for the ongoing crisis, stating, “These heartbreaking figures lay bare the true human cost of the SNP’s housing emergency. Thousands spent Christmas without a home — that is a scandal.”
Critics also point to the SNP’s cuts to housing funding as a major factor exacerbating the crisis. Lib Dem housing spokesman Paul McGarry noted, “The SNP have made a series of damaging choices, including axing funding for housing in the middle of a housing crisis.”
Additionally, the Glasgow City Council confirmed that the availability of housing remains under extreme pressure. Since July 2023, the council has had to rely heavily on bed and breakfast accommodations, which have faced legal challenges for being inadequate.
Overall, the number of homeless individuals in temporary housing in Glasgow surged to over 8,000 last year, and for the first time, it has now surpassed 9,000. Nearly 2,500 people have been placed in emergency hotels and hostels criticized for their substandard conditions. This includes 393 homeless women and 95 families with children, despite concerns over safety and crime.
As of this year, there have been over 3,081 breaches of the unsuitable accommodation order, a legal safeguard intended to protect homeless individuals from being housed in unfit conditions.
The urgency of this crisis cannot be overstated. As officials and advocates scramble for solutions, the human cost continues to rise, with thousands suffering through another winter without stable housing. The community and local leaders are calling for immediate action to address this escalating emergency.
