City homeless centre set to shut in weeks
ACENTRE for young homeless people is to close its doors later this month after a three-month reprieve.
The James Shields Centre in Pollokshaws will close its doors on January 23, after it was intended to close last October.
The centre, run by charity Quarriers, was told by Glasgow City Council it would not be funding it in the future as the facility was no longer appropriate.
A “reconfigured” service will be opened in Tollcross, due to open this month.
The James Shields centre provided bedsit style accommodation for 37 people aged 17 to 25, many, but not all, with addiction issues.
However, concerns over the condition of the building led to the council withdrawing funding for services housed there.
Quarriers said it is working with the city council to find alternative accommodation for the current residents.
However, one resident said with weeks until the centre closes she doesn’t know where she will be living. She said: “None of us have heard from them. ”
Glasgow City Council said that alternative provision like supported accommodation or their own tenancy could be a better alternative to some of the young people housed at the centre.
Quarriers will be delivering some services from the Tollcross facility.
Andy Williamson, Quarriers Deputy Chief Executive and Service Director, said: “Quarriers is working with Glasgow City Council Health and Social Care Partnership to reconfigure the existing James Shields Service.
“Notice was served on the building out of which the service currently operates and the building will close on January 23, 2020.
“The reconfigured service will be based in Tollcross and is scheduled to open in January.
“Quarriers’ priority throughout is for the young people at the service and is supporting Glasgow City Council HSCP whose role it is to find suitable alternative accommodation.”
A council spokesman said: “The service was no longer appropriate for the young people that use it, both in terms of its scale and the very dated environment it provided.
“We are, instead, committed to supporting people experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness, in their own tenancies or in more appropriate, smaller scale supported living arrangements.
“Discussions with Quarriers have been on-going for almost two years and we have been working closely with each of the young service users to ensure they are supported as they move on to more appropriate accommodation.
“For some young people, more appropriate accommodation will be either tenancy of their own (with support) or smaller scale, supported accommodation in buildings that are fit for purpose.”