Pressure on council to end use of B&B hostels for homeless
TELL us when the use of bed and breakfast accommodation to house homeless people will be halted in the city, Gaslgow City Council has been told.
In a letter written to the council’s convenor for health and social care integration, an opposition councillor has asked for a full report on the topic to be provided into the city’s homelessness crisis.
Green councillor Tanya Wisely wrote to the SNP’s Mhairi Hunter last week outlining their request.
In the note Councillor Wisely requested that “a paper [be] brought to the next meeting of Glasgow City Council... detailing how the council, via its role in the Health and Social Care Partnership, is addressing the city’s homelessness crisis”.
She also asked for this to include “a timed commitment to ending the use of B&B accommodation” in Glasgow.
Last week the Evening Times revealed that more than £8million has been paid over the past four years to private hotel and bed and breakfast providers in Glasgow.
But in response to the letter Councillor Hunter did not provide a date by which the council’s bed and breakfast accommodation use will be ended.
She said: “Glasgow’s homelessness services are being transformed via our Rapid Rehousing Transition Plan which was approved at the council’s City Administration Committee in February. This was shared with all councillors and briefings on the details were offered.
“I am happy to re-share this information and arrange update briefings for all groups, as I’m keen for councillors to become ambassadors for our on-going Housing First programme which is providing people with complex needs with settled mainstream tenancies and intensive support. This includes 43 people who are currently settling into new homes following the closure of out-of-date hostel accommodation.
“The Minister for Housing and Local Government recently wrote to all councils highlighting the Scottish Government’s plans to legislate to extend the Unsuitable Accommodation Order to ensure homeless people only stay in B&Bs in emergency situations and for short periods. This is due to come in to affect by 2021 and we are committed to working closely with the Scottish Government throughout this transition.”
Charity bosses have backed the call for greater transparency, asking for more information to be made available
letters@ eveningtimes. co.uk or
on Facebook or Twitter about “bad practice and the failings” of homelessness services.
Graeme Brown, director of Shelter Scotland, said: “We wholeheartedly agree that the public should know what is going on in their local authority.
“The more information about bad practice and the failings of homelessness services is publicly available the better. It leaves the council nowhere to hide and they must take on board the fact they are breaking the law and do something about it urgently.”