Glasgow Winter Shelter for homeless predicts surge in users for January
A temporary winter homeless shelter in Glasgow expects a surge in users in the new year.
A temporary winter homeless shelter in Glasgow expects a surge in users in the new year.
Glasgow City Mission set up the project seven years ago to provide emergency accommodation to people who have nowhere else to sleep as temperatures drop.
It has been accessed 305 times since opening on December 1 this year but management have found that numbers tend to rise in January when temperatures drop and more relationships tend to break down.
The numbers of people using the service has grown in recent years and it will remain open until the end of March next year, a month longer than usual due to demand.
Operators of the Glasgow Winter Night Shelter have said there had been an “unquestionable marked increase on the visibility of street homelessness” in the last year and expected to exceed the record 605 people that used the service last winter.
The East Campbell Street shelter provides a bed and breakfast for vulnerable people and volunteers work to find them support through partner organisations like housing associations, health bodies or legal aid groups.
The charity's fundraising manager Graham Steven said: “Based on previous years, we often find numbers surge in the January when more relationships break down and also when temperatures drop.
“This year's service has got off to a smooth start and we've been privileged to be able to help people in their time of need.
“As well as providing a safe place to stay, we'll connect guests to NHS services and other services operated in the city by our partners such as daytime drop-in centres, mental health services, legal help and rehab centres.
“For the first time this year, we've had council homelessness caseworkers on the premises which is helping to speed up the process of providing settled accommodation to people.”
Funding and support for the shelter comes through individual donations and from partners including NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Police Scotland, the Govan Law Centre and Glasgow Homelessness Network.
Rangers Charity Foundation raised £70,000 with a sleep-out in Ibrox, helping the shelter stay open for an extra month in both 2016 and 2017.
Mr Steven added: “We continue to be very encouraged by the public's goodwill to those battling homelessness and towards the night shelter.”