![](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/0_JS320988943.jpg\")
Thousands of children are homeless in the city (Image: Getty )<\/p>\nEXCLUSIVE: New figures also show the number of homeless people in temporary accommodation is at a high.Thousands of children are homeless in the city (Image: Getty )<\/p>\n
Over three thousand children have been declared homeless in Scotland\u2019s biggest city weeks before Christmas<\/a>.<\/p>\n It comes as a record number of people are living in temporary accommodation in Glasgow<\/a>.<\/p>\n Labour MSP Mark Griffin: \u201cThe SNP\u2019s incompetence is fuelling the housing emergency and causing misery for countless Scots<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cAt the root of this crisis is a lack of housing, with the SNP allowing the number of new homes being built to fall, while ministers\u2019 affordable homes pledge is nowhere near being met.<\/p>\n \u201cAfter nearly two decades in government, the SNP has failed to tackle the housing emergency and reduce homelessness.\u201d<\/p>\n SNP-led Glasgow council declared a housing emergency in 2023 amid huge pressure on homelessness services.<\/p>\n New figures obtained by campaigner Sean Clerkin show the problem is getting worse as a bitter winter looms.<\/p>\n The number of homeless children living in temporary accommodation in April last year was 2,765, but the figure has steadily risen and hit 3,233 in October.<\/p>\n The stats for all homeless people in the city living in short-term digs also make for grim reading.<\/p>\n The figure jumped to 8,000 last year before rising to 8,564 in September. Last month\u2019s number came to 8,771.<\/p>\n Clerkin, who is part of the Scottish Tenants Organisation, said: \u201cGlasgow City Council is normalising homelessness condemning a whole generation of children to penury and destitution.<\/p>\n \u201cThe STO will be taking Glasgow City Council to the Court of Session for judicial review to stop them breaking the law in relation to their appalling treatment of homeless people.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are also calling for an Emergency Winter Homeless Summit involving the Home Office, the Scottish Government and all frontline agencies and organisations who help the homeless to tackle the homeless catastrophe in Glasgow.\u201d<\/p>\n Glasgow council chiefs believe the cost of the living crisis is a factor behind the rise, but they also say an increase in refugee homelessness is driving the numbers.<\/p>\n SNP council leader Susan Aitken has blamed the Home Office policy of emptying asylum seeker hotels for triggering a huge increase in refugees having nowhere to live.<\/p>\n But critics also claim Scotland\u2019s liberal laws are making Glasgow a magnet for refugees from other parts of the UK.<\/p>\n A refugee granted leave to remain in London or anywhere else in the UK can declare themselves homeless and many have done so.<\/p>\n According to the new figures, there were 5,465 refugees living in temporary accommodation in Glasgow in October.<\/p>\n Over 1600 refugees were living in hotels and bed and breakfasts as of last month.<\/p>\n The city is now facing a \u00a366m black hole linked to a surge in demand for temporary accommodation by refugees.<\/p>\n Glasgow councillor Cllr Alan Casey, city convener for homelessness, said: \u201cThe reality is we are dealing with a housing emergency, predominantly caused by Home Office decisions, and the demand for homelessness assistance in Glasgow continues to grow with no ease in sight, as a result.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is not a situation we wish anyone to be in. There is a great deal of work going on with partners to reduce the number of people in emergency and temporary accommodation, and we had a record number of permanent lets, but we need the resources to achieve this and remain in continual dialogue with both Governments about the pressures we face.\u201d<\/p>\n Scottish Lib Dem housing spokesperson Paul McGarry said: \u201cThese figures are a dire verdict on the SNP’s failure to tackle the housing crisis.<\/p>\n \u201cOn their watch, affordable housebuilding has collapsed. They have made a series of harmful choices, including axing funding for housing in the middle of a housing crisis.”<\/p>\n Tory MSP Meghan Gallacher said: \u201cThese shocking figures should be a source of shame for failing SNP ministers.<\/p>\n \u201cScotland\u2019s housing emergency is only spiralling further out of control due to their inaction and they have no plan to tackle it.<\/p>\n \u201cTheir savage cuts to housing and council budgets as well as their reckless rent controls have driven away investment in the sector when people are crying out for homes to be built.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Glasgow](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/2343646.jpg\")
Glasgow City Council headquartersREAD MORE: Top Scottish Labour donor says UK Government ‘getting it wrong’ on the economy as tax rising Budget looms<\/a>READ MORE: Reform UK defector accused of ‘treachery’ as Scottish Tory leader lets rip<\/a><\/p>\n