The number of people utilising services from a Glasgow homeless charity has soared from 60 to more than 340 in the past four years.
Homeless Project Scotland, which is based in the city, helps to provide soup kitchens, food and clothing banks, and accommodation to people experiencing homelessness and poverty in Glasgow.
Between 2019 and 2023, its chairman and co-founder Colin McInnes has said the number of people queuing for food in Glasgow has risen dramatically.
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Speaking to Glasgow Live , he said: "The numbers are highly increasing. We went from around an average of 60 people in the queue in 2019 to over 340 in 2023.
"The homeless problem within Glasgow particularly is getting worse. The are more families and children we’re seeing coming from temporary accommodation to get food because they don’t have enough money to get themselves.
"A lot of people are coming to eat in order to be able to afford to heat their home."
With the cost of living crisis putting more and more people under pressure, Homeless Project Scotland has seen more pressure placed on their service than ever.
"The cost of living crisis has made a humongous impact," Colin said.
"We’re continuing to do whatever we can but now it’s coming to the point where we are having to put more food on and more resources.
"The demand for our service has increased - it’s doubled in just the last eight days."
With Glasgow still experiencing snaps of cold weather, Colin pointed to the particular effect this has on rough sleepers.
He said: "The coldness puts particular pressure on rough sleepers in Glasgow. There are well over 20 rough sleepers in the city centre. Weather conditions put a lot of pressure on people who are sleeping rough.
"People who are coming to the kitchen are standing in the queue for up to two hours waiting to get a hot meal. If you’re waiting that long, it means you’re desperate for that food."
Colin made an emotional appeal for help from the public, both through donations and volunteers, with the charity particularly in need of drivers to collect and deliver food.
He said: "I would continue to ask the public if they can donate to our charity. All the donations we receive is going to food and providing the service we provide.
"The other big, big struggle is volunteer drivers - we’re desperate for drivers to collect the food and deliver the food. If anyone can come forward they’d be much appreciated.
"We continue to operate with no paid staff, we’re all volunteers. If it wasn’t for our volunteers we wouldn’t have a service."
To learn more about Homeless Project Scotland donate money to the charity, visit their website here.
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