Charity says it has outgrown its current premises and wants to offer more space to women

Destitute asylum seekers will benefit from a new night shelter if plans are approved by Glasgow City Council.

Glasgow Night Shelter has submitted a planning application for a new night shelter in the city’s Fairlie Street.

The organisation says it urgently needs to move to a new building so they can also offer a safe place for women.

Currently the shelter operates out of a church in the west end.

The shelter is run by volunteers offering food, shelter, clothing, advice and contact.

Bosses said they have been looking for a building for over a year for the project.

In the application they sate: “The two-floor layout of the building will allow us to provide separate social and quiet spaces and a much needed secure women-only area. The current layout is open-plan and can be easily adapted to our requirements.

"As we work with vulnerable people, for security purposes our street-level presence has to be discreet. This is possible here thanks to the property being above the ground floor."

Each night the shelter accommodates refused asylum seekers and homeless non-EU migrants.

Those groups use the service because their immigration status means they cannot access normal homeless services.

The organisation says there are about 3,000 asylum seekers in Glasgow. At any one time between 30 to 100 are destitute – around 25 of whom come to the shelter each night.

Most rely on other asylum seekers or refugees for support.

Destitution leads to greater levels of depression, poor mental health, anxiety and suicide.

Glasgow Night Shelter also argue there is currently no shelter anywhere in Scotland that will take destitute women asylum seekers who have been refused.

The organisation says they urgently need to move to a new building so they can also offer a safe place for women.

A decision is expected on the plans in March.