Glasgow Council refuses to accept it is denying homeless people accommodation according to Shelter Scotland
Homeless people are being denied accommodation in Scotland’s biggest city because the council is routinely flouting the law.
Graeme Brown, Shelter Scotland director, told TFN Glasgow City Council was “systematically” failing the homeless and breaking the law.
Since June 2013 legislation has been in place forcing local authorities to house all non-intentionally homeless people.
But last year Glasgow told over 3,000 people it wouldn’t provide them with accommodation.
Latest official statistics provided by Scotland's Housing Regulator showed the council broke the law 3,025 times last year
Campaigners mounted a protest outside Glasgow City Chambers highlighting the council’s failings.
Brown Said: “We have met with other local authorities who have failed in these targets and had positive responses, accepting there is a problem. The issue here in Glasgow is that there is a steadfast refusal to accept it has a problem and that’s why we’re protesting today.
“Let’s be clear: this is unacceptable and Glasgow Council is breaking the law.”
The unlawful practice of denying homeless people their right to temporary accommodation is known as “gatekeeping”.
Shelter Scotland has been keeping a log of homeless people turned away from Glasgow City Council and come to the charity for help. Between July 2016 and November 2017 Shelter Scotland recorded over 100 cases of gatekeeping from Glasgow.
In January 2018, the charity wrote to the leader of Glasgow City Council highlighting detailed evidence and concerns about the practice of gatekeeping in the city and requesting another meeting on this issue. To date, no formal response has been received.
Brown added: “One year on from the new city administration’s landmark Housing and Homelessness Summit in 2017, it is deeply disappointing to see that little or no progress has been made on this vital issue.
"Glasgow City Council must immediately commit to ending the practice of gatekeeping homelessness services in the city. No caveats and no qualifications. No more internal reviews, it is time for action and meaningful change and improvement in the city’s homelessness services."
Glasgow City Council has yet to respond to TFN's request for a comment.
