Homeless deaths in Glasgow have surged by a shocking 84% in a year, making it one of the worst cities in the UK.
Figures show the city’s death toll leaped from 33 in 2020 to 80 in 2021 – a rise of 142 per cent.
The figures came from the Museum of Homelessness (MoH) charity, through its Dying Homeless Project, reports the Daily Record.
The report found 1286 people died while homeless in the UK in 2021 compared with 710 in 2019 – an 81 per cent rise. UK numbers were up by 32 per cent on 2020.
Sign up to Glasgow Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox
Sean Clerkin, of the Scottish Tenants Association, said that homeless people in Glasgow were stuck in unsuitable accommodation for an average of 408 days.
He also said many homeless people died in unsafe and unsuitable accommodation and failed to get support for alcohol and drug addiction as well as mental health problems.
He added: “This is a dereliction of duty of care to our most vulnerable citizens by those in authority in Glasgow.
“I am terrified what lies ahead for vulnerable and homeless people throughout Scotland as rapid housing transition plans to rehouse the homeless are being hindered by staff shortages, low pay and temporary contracts.”
Last year’s figures showed deaths rose by a third, despite the 'Everyone In' project that saw rough sleepers given hotel rooms during the pandemic.
Jess Turtle, of MoH, said: “It’s heartbreaking to see so many people dying and to feel so helpless in the face of such a serious emergency.”
She added: “There needs to be a confidential inquiry into the deaths of homeless people to allow an honest appraisal.”
And a Heriot-Watt University study found Glasgow reduced city centre rough sleeping by 75 per cent to less than seven people at any time by December 2020.
