City's homeless services fall short of statutory standards

A probe into Glasgow City Council’s homeless services has been launched.

The Scottish Housing Regulator (SHR) today announced that it has started an inquiry using its power in section 42, part four of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2010.

It will visit the council to directly test its performance, with a particular focus on how the council discharges its duty to provide people with emergency and temporary accommodation.

The regulator published a report on the council in March 2018 which highlighted a range of serious weaknesses in the council’s performance in delivering services to people who are homeless.

Kathleen McInulty, assistant director of regulation, said: ”We have been monitoring the council’s performance since our report last year.

“The council is reporting that it continues to fail to meet its duties to provide temporary and emergency accommodation to a significant number of people who approach it for help. It also reported that people who are homeless are still waiting significant times for a permanent home.”

The regulator will publish the findings from its inquiry in the new year. It will then determine its future regulatory strategy for the council.

“Since we launched our legal action in August, thousands of people have joined our movement to stand up for justice for the homeless people Glasgow is failing.

Graeme Brown, director of Shelter Scotland, said: "We welcome any move which is designed to guarantee that homeless people in Glasgow receive the homeless services and emergency accommodation to which they have a legal right.

“Our concerns about Glasgow City Council’s failures are wide-ranging - from cuts to drug treatment beds, cuts to supported accommodation and an over-reliance on insufficient winter shelters.

"At a time when 45 homeless people died last year, Glasgow needs better.”