16 hours ago
Hundreds accessed emergency winter homeless help in Glasgow
Glasgow City Mission changed its services from an Overnight Welcome Centre to one where its Housing Settlement Officers helped people get accommodation.
The charity has revealed it dealt with 619 guests.
It arranged 233 emergency hotel stays over six months for vulnerable individuals, prioritising safety during winter.
Those 233 were people who were at risk of sleeping rough that night.
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The other guests were already accommodated in four city centre hotels assigned to Glasgow City Mission HSOs who were able to give other assistance.
The City Mission, a Christian charity, said it supported 51 individuals into permanent tenancies and 21 into temporary furnished flats.
The report showed 81% of those supported were international and 19% British, with an average age of 34.
Ove the winter the charity witnessed those at the sharp end of the city's growing homelessness crisis.
The Glasgow City Mission report stated: 'Glasgow is facing increased demand due to factors such as the asylum backlog, the cost-of-living crisis, and Glasgow's attractiveness as a destination.
'The numbers in temporary accommodations rose significantly, from 1,400+ to 1,800+ during the season. Limited resources led to delayed access to emergency accommodation for some individuals, often taking up to three weeks before temporary accommodation was offered.'
It wants to see a return to the previous model.
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The report continued: 'The project aims to advocate for a return to the Overnight Welcome Centre model with wraparound care and emergency beds.
'It is our view that a fully funded permanent welcome centre would be the gold standard, a view shared by sector partners and Scottish Government.'
The HSOs delivered practical support, including furniture, appliances, and assistance with integrating into local communities.
A spokesperson said:' The team advocated for individuals in temporary accommodation, helping them transition into stable housing.
'They built trust with guests through personalised, compassionate interactions, fostering long-term stability.
'Barriers like language and digital poverty were addressed by providing tailored support for diverse needs.
'HSOs also conducted neighbourhood tours to familiarise guests with prospective housing areas, promoting informed choices. '
Weekly Drop-ins were hosted within our city centre project to assist with applications, healthcare access, and housing navigation.
