Deaths of homeless people in Scotland have rocketed – with Glasgow among 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.
Edinburgh also climbed from 16 deaths in 2020 to 22 in 2021, making it another blackspot.
The figures came from the Museum of Homelessness (MoH) charity, through its Dying Homeless Project.
It 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.
Sean Clerkin, of the Scottish Tenants Association, 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.”
He said that homeless people in Glasgow were stuck in unsuitable accommodation for an average of 408 days.
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.”
Housing secretary Shona Robison said the figures were concerning but added: “We have committed £52.5million to rapid rehousing transition plans.”
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.
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