More than 500 Ukrainian refugees are still living in hotels in Glasgow as efforts continue to find them more suitable accommodation.
A total of 1,100 Ukrainians who were staying on the MS Ambition ship in the city have been moved to accommodation across Scotland.
Glasgow has welcomed 2,500 Ukrainians since the invasion by Russia in February last year.
READ MORE: Glasgow council supports asylum seekers getting right to work and free bus travel
The information on efforts to home refugees was presented at a meeting, which also heard Glasgow faces ongoing issues with social housing supply in the city.
A report presented at a health and social care meeting warned there is a shortfall of 1,700 social housing homes available for homeless people in the city this year while 2,800 are likely to be available.
It heard fewer empty properties are on offer, with people moving less often among other issues causing the lack of homes.
Recent figures showed there are only six people officially recorded as rough sleeping in the city despite problems with lack of housing.
A report presented to the Glasgow City Integration Joint Board meeting this week said on April 1, 632 homeless households lived in bed and breakfast accommodation in the city. Out of that total 504 households were breaching the unsuitable accommodation order - which is a safeguard introduced by the Government to stop them from having to stay in substandard places for more than seven days.
The report said: “Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership (GCHSCP) continues to have an over reliance on bed and breakfast type accommodation to provide emergency accommodation to homeless households. Despite the continued challenges, GCHSCP is committed to ending the use of B&B type accommodation.”
The situation came to light as the Integration Joint Board on Wednesday was given an update on the developments of the rapid rehousing transition plan, which aims to help homeless people find settled and suitable accommodation quicker.
Pat Togher, assistant chief officer public protection and complex needs at the GCHSCP told the meeting the delivery of the rapid rehousing transition plan faces challenges.
But he said there has been full compliance with emergency accommodation duties despite all of the issues.
Mr Togher pointed out 300 housing first tenancies have been completed and rough sleeping is at a “sustained low figure.”
The Integration Joint Board approved financial commitments for the rapid rehousing transition plan (RRTP). There is a Scottish Government grant of £1.237 million for this year with a spend of £2.283 million projected - to be covered by reserves.
It also requested a further report on revised targets and goals for the RRTP and approved the extension of it to March 2026.
It also approved an “exit strategy for the” annual investment of £1.237 million funded by Scottish Government RRTP” funding if the Holyrood budget in December 2023 does not confirm this will continue in 2024 to 2025.
READ NEXT:
More Glasgow people get jobs as 12,500 more workers recorded in employment rise
Glasgow parents get income boost of £1.2m thanks to cost of living advisers
Glasgow city centre plan for 350 flats with no car parking for tenants approved
Glasgow nursery children told they CAN attend primary where siblings go, after initial refusal
