Council set to slash homelessness budget for new model
Fears are mounting that Glasgow is to cut £2m from its homelessness budget.
The city’s Health and Social Care Partnership put forward plans for swingeing cuts that will mean the loss of almost 100 emergency and supported housing beds across the city.
Proposals put forward include the move to a housing first model that places homeless people in supported homes instead of hostels and homeless accommodation.
However charities have raised concerns about the lack of consultation on the move.
Lorna Walker, senior solicitor at Govan Law Centre, said people coming to the centre had told of being forced onto the streets because of a lack of homeless accommodation.
“Closing all of these beds when people are already being turned away from services, or aren’t being moved from temporary accommodation sometimes for years, is very worrying,” she added. “Housing First will hopefully be a great thing, but we didn’t envisage it at the expense of existing provision.”
Hugh Hill, operation manager of the Simon Community Scotland, said budget cuts have meant the charity losing two of its services already, with the loss of more than 30 jobs.
“Our staff have been delivering amazing support to hundreds of individuals over the years and many people are alive and well today as a direct consequence of the skills and experience of the team,” he added.
A spokeswoman for Glasgow’s Health and Social Care Partnership said: “Glasgow’s homeless services are being transformed to ensure they are fit for the 21st century and that no one spends longer than necessary in temporary accommodation.
“Rapid rehousing is our aim and all service users affected by these plans will move to either Housing First tenancies, mainstream tenancies or have appropriate support provided from alternative care group resources.
“We must ensure resources are used to best effect to help those who need help most, in the most appropriate manner. Unfortunately, some of the services affected by this decision were underused and others were operated from premises in need of repair or inappropriate in this day and age.”
