The Scottish Government

This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007

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Programme to help Glasgow's homeless

06/10/2003

The largest accommodation and support programme for homeless people in Scotland was officially launched today.

The initiative will see more than £100 million invested by the Executive over the next three years to close down Glasgow's outdated large-scale hostels and replace them with more suitable, smaller scale accommodation and vital support services. The programme will be delivered through close partnership working between the Executive and Glasgow City Council.

This major milestone, which marks the beginning of the end for Glasgow's outdated hostels, was announced at the opening of a unique new facility for homeless people - the Clyde Place Assessment Centre. The facility will deliver a whole new approach to the provision of accommodation, support and treatment services for up to 54 homeless people at any one time.

Speaking at the opening of the Centre, Communities Minister, Margaret Curran said:

"We know that almost a quarter of Scotland's homeless people live in Glasgow, with over 12,000 applications for assistance every year - and around 6,500 have experience of living in hostels each year. We are determined to close the revolving door between hostel life and street life which is all too common an experience for homeless people.

"That is why we, and Glasgow City Council are placing such a high priority on working with housing, homelessness, social care, health service and voluntary sector partners to secure the earliest possible closure of the old hostels and the development of new services.

"As well as closing and replacing the outdated hostels, this major initiative will help to identify and resolve homelessness where it does occur, focussing on the more complex needs of people who have a history of homelessness and rough sleeping."

This initiative, which involves close partnership working between the Executive, Glasgow City Council, the Greater Glasgow Health Board and the voluntary sector forms a key part of the Executive's Partnership Commitment to providing effective support for homeless people and to tackling poverty and disadvantage across the country.

Clients of Clyde Place were on hand to meet the Minister and to show her around the Centre. One client, a young woman currently living at the Centre, spoke of the benefit she has gained from the services provided:

"When I arrived at Clyde Place my drug use was out of control - I was a mess, my partner had been violent to me and my child had been taken into care. The staff at Clyde Place made me feel safe and they quickly got me all the help I needed, especially for my drug use and this is now under control. I even have my own personal support worker who is there for me every day.

"I am now so much better - I will be moving into my own house soon and I will get to see more of my child. I will still need some help and support to get settled and Clyde Place are even arranging this for me. I am so glad I was in Clyde Place and not one of the big hostels where I have been before - I think my drug use would have got worse and killed me by now without all the help I was given."

Councillor Jon McKenzie, Convenor of the Social Care Services Committee at Glasgow City Council said:

"The opening ofClyde Placerepresents a new era in the wayGlasgowprovides services for homeless people. By gradually closing the larger hostels and introducing more community living we aspire to reduce the number of people presenting as homeless more than once. This new facility will provide valuable temporary accommodation for the city as part of our strategy to reduce homelessness and eliminate the need for rough sleeping."

The launch was also welcomed by Margaret Taylor, Chief Executive of Glasgow Homelessness Network (GHN) who added:

"GHN has campaigned for a long time for hostels to be reprovisioned and we are delighted that the process is now underway. People living in hostels have expressed a need for ongoing information and support through the process andGlasgow's Homelessness Partnership is committed to making this happen"

The Glasgow Hostel Reprovisioning Programme - is being taken forward in partnership between the Executive, Glasgow City Council, Greater Glasgow Health Board and the voluntary sector in Glasgow. Its aim is to close the outdated and inappropriate homeless hostels in Glasgow and to replace them with more appropriate accommodation and support services. The ultimate aim is to reduce the number of people in Glasgow sleeping rough or in precarious accommodation.

Funding will come from a combination of Scottish Executive sources, including the Homelessness Budget, the Health Budget and the budget for housing support services.

This initiative aims to tackle the causes and consequences of homelessness through effective assessments, advice and information services, temporary accommodation, support and access to social care services in the community.

Clients of Clyde Place Assessment Centre benefit from a wide range of support services, including an on-site GP surgery, daily clinics and advice on managing their own homes. Support in dealing with specific problems such as drug and alcohol addictions and other health and social care needs are also available.