Homelessness will seem like a world away for most of us.
But a wrong turn in life or a childhood trauma can lead to a spiral into poverty and addiction.
Equally, for asylum seekers, life in Scotland can often mean struggling to find a place you might call home, instead moving from hostels to hotels or even detention centres.
All of these people, living in the margins of society, are in great danger of falling through the cracks.
Miserable, joyless lives often lead to addiction and such people are among the most vulnerable.
That’s why it is a disgrace that 23 were allowed to die in just three Glasgow hotels as Scotland battled the pandemic.
A red flag should have been applied to every one of the residents of the hotels that were commandeered for the homeless from March 2020.
Every one of them was in a danger zone, facing a battle for their very survival, with some facing conditions described as squalid and inhumane.
These deaths happened, one after the other, on Glasgow City Council’s watch.
The council claims that the low grade accommodation was not the cause of the tragedies.
And bosses state that extensive wraparound services were applied to the residents of the hotels.
Housing campaigners have called for a public inquiry.
And there are questions that need to be answered in the aftermath of such a death toll.
The foremost must be – if such comprehensive support was in place, why did so many die?
Vote for Hamza
Hamza Yassin has captured our hearts with his great performances on Strictly.
The likeable 32-year-old has become one of the favourites to win this year’s crown. Born in Sudan, he moved to the UK with his family when he was eight years old, first living in England.
But for the last 12 years the BBC wildlife presenter had been living on the Ardnamurchan peninsula.
Hamza has made Scotland his home and embraced life in one of the most beautiful parts of the country.
In the weeks he has taken part in the hit show, his personality has shone through.
We have seen a kind, dignified, caring and talented man charm the nation.
Each week he is a credit to Scotland so make sure you back him all the way to the coveted title.
There’s no doubt about who we want to win – it has to be Hamza!
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