Help for homeless as temperatures plunge

STREET teams scoured towns and cities to seek out and help the homeless amid lethal temperatures yesterday.

No matter how much provision is set aside to offer shelter and security to rough sleepers, some don’t feel able to take up the offer of a bed for the night.

Lorraine McGrath, chief executive of Simon Community Scotland, said eight trained outreach workers were using information given by members of the public in Glasgow to identify the whereabouts of vulnerable people.

McGrath, also chief executive of Edinburgh-based Streetwork, admitted the Beast from the East weather alert meant it was all hands to the pump.

She said: “This can be a critical time, particularly for those who don’t present themselves in search of temporary or permanent accommodation.

“It’s difficult for people in ordinary lives to understand why people might sleep on the streets but there are mental health problems that lead to chaotic lifestyles and dependencies that lead people to feel rough sleeping might be the best option for them.

“There are feeling of hopelessness, helplessness and worthlessness that come into play in the extreme cases.”

McGrath said the winter initiative by the Holyrood’s homelessness and rough sleeping action group made big improvements in readiness for extreme conditions this year.

She said: “We were given more flexibility in the way resources can be allocated and this has helped with emergency allocations of accommodation and paying deposits.

“We have even seen some rough sleepers move directly to settled accommodation, which is a massive step forward.”

Among many community responses in Scotland, Meadowbank Church in Edinburgh opened their doors to the homeless while at Oban Youth Hostel, one homeless man’s bed was paid by the centre manager as a good deed.