Homelessbanners placed across city
CAMPAIGNERS fighting against homelessness plastered landmarks with slogan banners to the surprise of morning commuters.
Residents were baffled to see the signs which read “Homelessness Shames Glasgow” in some of the city’s most prominent spots yesterday morning.
The banners appeared on the Clyde Arc, outside the City Chambers, at the Finnieston Crane and Glasgow Green.
They were also strategically placed across flyovers at the main entry and exit routes to the city.
Activists from the Homelessness Shames Glasgow group say they want to highlight the need for better support, and claim people are dying on the streets due to their unmet housing needs.
A spokesman said: “There is growing evidence that simple things such as section 29 the right to temporary accommodation is not being met.
“This is leading to numerous deaths on our streets.
“There are some fantastic outreach groups and charities who provide much needed support and friendship to those with out a home – it is increasingly being left to the great people of Glasgow to look after the most vulnerable.
“Our local authority needs to do so much more in order to prevent further deaths on our streets. It is their legal obligation.”
A Glasgow City Council spokesman said: “Our city centre street team works on a daily basis with the small number of people who sleep rough on any given night to get them i nto support services.
“The reasons for homelessness can be complex and moving on from a chaotic lifestyle can be very difficult, particularly if offers of support are declined.
“On any given night around 2000 people affected by homelessness are accommodated by the council.
“We have also recently opened two thirty-bedded, emergency accommodation units at a cost of £12million to go alongside existing emergency accommodation, various forms of supported accommodation and around 1500 temporary furnished flats.
“Our aim is always to see people return to mainstream housing as quickly as possible.”