Charity shelter says drugs and alcohol are leading to one death a month
Homeless people in Glasgow are dying at an alarming rate according to a homeless charity
The manager of the Lodging House night shelter in the city has spoken out following the death of a woman in the Gallowgate area last Thursday.
The charity was seeing a death every month with the popularity of drugs such as valium and opiates being blamed for the rising number of deaths.
Her body was found beside McKinnon’s Bar less than a mile from the shelter.
A report by the Critical Incident and Homeless Deaths group, set up by Glasgow City Council, showed that 47 people with open homelessness assessments died between 2017 and 2018.
Gus Smeaton, of The Lodging House Mission, said drugs were playing a big part on the vulnerability of homeless people in the city.
He added: “We’re averaging at around one death a month right now.
“It’s really sad. We aim to build relationship with these people as well as giving them the assistance they need.
“Our view is that the drugs people are using seem to be becoming more dangerous and users don’t know what is in them. Street Valium seems to be a particular problem.”
The Christian organisation has a mission to provide care and support to those in need and said it sees more and more men and women becoming homeless due to the current economic downturn.
The woman had been known to sleep rough in the Gallowgate area for a while, according Facebook posts with many locals having established friendships with her.
One post said: “Used to give her money – she was pleasant and always grateful.”
“She’s a family somewhere. And their worst fear has happened," read another.
A spokesman for Glasgow City Council said their Street Team and Housing First project are actively working to end homelessness in the city.
