NO HOME & NO HOPE

Rough sleeping in country's biggest city soars by 28%. Campaigners fear growing crisis will risk lives in winter

- MARK MCGIVERN

A HOMELESSNESS explosion in Scotland will result in record numbers of people sleeping on the streets, it has been claimed.

New figures show that in Scotland's biggest city, 929 people have claimed to have slept rough this year-up 28 per cent in just six weeks from September 18-as Christmas approaches.

The numbers, released in a Freedom of Information request, also show that, for the first time, more than 8000 people were living in temporary accommodation in Glasgow-up four per cent in the same period.

During the same six-week snapshot, the number of homelessness applications went up by 20 per cent, adding pressure on an already impossible situation.

The figures which follow equally alarming increases for the previous six weeks - underline that homelessness is out of control, with housebuilding failing to keep pace with growing demand and families being stuck in temporary homes.

Campaigner Sean Clerkin, of the Scottish Tenants' Association, said: "These horrific homeless statistics in Glasgow measured by all metrics are showing record numbers of homeless people and children living in temporary accommodation and record numbers of homeless people sleeping rough on the streets of Glasgow.