First Minister: Homelessness has no place in civilised society

Nicola Sturgeon has said there is a “real determination” to eradicate homelessness and rough sleeping in Scotland.

Ms Sturgeon was responding to a call from Labour MSP James Kelly during First Minister’s Questions urging her to take action to end the number of homeless people dying on the streets.

The First Minister indicated that as well as a homelessness and rough sleeping task force, the Scottish Government has also established a £50 million tackling homelessness fund to target the issue directly.

Ms Sturgeon said: “It is of huge concern to me that anybody in any civilised country would die while sleeping on the streets or while homeless, and as long as there is one person in that position, that is not a situation that any of us should tolerate.

“There is a real determination, I know on the part of Glasgow City Council and local authorities across the country, backed by the third sector and certainly backed by the Scottish Government, to get to a point where we eradicate homelessness and we eradicate rough sleeping because it has no place in any civilised society.

“I certainly, as First Minister, will not rest on this issue until we get to that point and I hope we have the support of people right across the Chamber.”

Glasgow MSP Mr Kelly said the Scottish Government should promise to “properly fund” homelessness services in its Budget.

He said: “Last Thursday morning, a young woman living in a tent was found dead in the Gallowgate.

“In addition to that, Glasgow City Council reports that between October 2017 and October 2018, 47 people with open homelessness assessments died.

“This is a shocking situation which should concern Nicola Sturgeon not only as First Minister but as a Glasgow MSP.”