EXCLUSIVE: Scotland’s largest local authority admitted its services were “under extreme pressure” as the city struggles with the volume of homelessness applications.
Glasgow faces unprecedented demand for emergency housing (Image: Ross Turpie/DailyRecord)
Campaigners have threatened to launch a judicial review against Glasgow City Council over its “unacceptable” record on housing.
The Scottish Tenants Organisation (STO) said Scotland’s largest local authority was too often failing to meet its statutory legal obligations to provide emergency accommodation to those who present themselves as homeless.
Sean Clerkin, STO spokesman, previously called for the city to convene an emergency summit to on how to tackle its housing emergency – but it was rejected by the SNP administration.
He told the Record he had now taken legal advice on whether to launch a judicial review, a process which sees a court examine the lawfulness of a decision made by a public body.
Recent figures show the number of homeless people living in short-term digs rose to a record 8,771 last month. The number of homeless kids in temporary accommodation also hit 3,233 in October.
An increase in applications from refugees granted leave to remain is a key factor in the surge. According to the figures, there were 5,465 refugees living in temporary accommodation in Glasgow last month.
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Clerkin said: “The response from Glasgow City Council in refusing to meet with the Scottish Tenants Organisation to discuss their failure to obey the law to offer temporary accommodation to homeless people in the city is extremely disappointing.
“Glasgow City Council in refusing to give temporary accommodation to 1,755 homeless people between April 1 and Octobe 9 this year is completely unacceptable and leaves us with no alternative now but to proceed to full judicial review to force Glasgow City Council to provide a roof over the heads of all homeless people in the city to stop them freezing to death this winter.
“In the meantime we will write to the Housing Secretary Mairi McAllan to ask her to intervene to demand that Glasgow City Council meet their statutory obligations under the Housing Act Scotland 1987 to provide interim accommodation to all homeless people who seek that help.
“The council has a history of denying homeless people temporary accommodation dating back to 2013 and they must now be stopped in their tracks especially as we head into the worst of the winter weather in 2025-26.”
Clerkin said he was told the cost of a judicial review could be around £30,000 and the STO would launch a crowdfunder to pay for it.
A spokesman for Glasgow City Council said: “It’s simply not true to say that the council refuses to find accommodation for people experiencing homelessness.
“Services are under extreme pressure and we absolutely acknowledge that, sometimes, we are unable to accommodate someone immediately. However, when that is the case, we continue to explore all options and source accommodation as soon as possible.”
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