Homelessness

– in the Scottish Parliament at on 24 January 2019.

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Photo of James Kelly James Kelly Labour

Glasgow’s

Evening Times has reported that one homeless person a month dies sleeping rough on the city’s streets. Last Thursday morning, a young woman who had been living in a tent was found dead in the Gallowgate. In addition, Glasgow City Council reports that, between October 2017 and October 2018, 47 people with open homeless assessments died.

It is a shocking situation, which should concern Nicola Sturgeon not only as First Minister but as a Glasgow MSP.

What action will the Government take in its budget to properly fund homelessness services to put an end to the scandal of people dying on our streets?

Photo of Nicola Sturgeon Nicola Sturgeon Scottish National Party

I agree with James Kelly on this. It is of huge concern to me that anybody in any civilised country dies while sleeping on the streets or being homeless. While there is one person in that position, none of us should tolerate the situation.

In terms of action, James Kelly is aware of the work that we have been doing through the homelessness and rough sleeping taskforce, which has come up with a number of recommendations on tackling the issue. On the question about budgetary steps, we have established the £50 million tackling homelessness fund, which is about tackling the problem in a targeted and direct way. Some of the best experts in the field have been helping us to bring forward the recommendations.

There is a determination on the part of

Glasgow City Council and local authorities around the country, backed by the third sector and the Scottish Government, to get to a point at which we eradicate homelessness and rough sleeping. It has no place in any civilised society and, as First Minister, I will not rest on the issue until we get to that point. I hope that we have the support of members across the chamber.