New flats bought for homeless project

Glasgow City Mission will initially buy ten flats scattered across the city for some of their most vulnerable clients.

The long-established charity has a track record of providing practical care to people in Glasgow affected by homelessness, poverty and social isolation but a growing visibility of street homelessness and a rising number of drug deaths in the city has led the charity to adopt more radical plans.

The accommodation model adopted by Glasgow City Mission will follow the successful Housing First concept, piloted initially in Glasgow by Turning Point Scotland, and which has proven to eradicate homelessness in parts of North America and Scandinavia where it has been implemented.

Grant Campbell, Chief Executive of Glasgow City Mission says: “Many of the vulnerable people we work with are often caught in a revolving door that sees them lose their tenancy, find themselves on the streets, prison or hospital, and then spend a long time working their way back through the system to receive new accommodation, only for the cycle to start again.

Glasgow City Mission has committed to purchasing ten flats initially, made possible thanks to generous supporters of the charity including a number of people who have left a gift to the charity in their will. Property management will be undertaken by Homes for Good, a local social enterprise letting agency. Glasgow City Mission will identify tenants working with them under the umbrella of the City Ambition Network (CAN)

It is anticipated the first tenants will move into their homes by Christmas.