Housing Minister vows to looking into Glasgow soup kitchen queues
The image of people waiting in the snow in George Square has been shared thousands of times
Last updated 12th Feb 2021
The Housing Minister has told Radio Clyde News he will investigate the circumstances behind massive queues for a soup kitchen in Glasgow’s George Square.
An image of hundreds of people waiting in the snow prompted widespread anger on social media with some describing it as a “national disgrace” and others comparing the scene to former communist countries.
The soup kitchen is run by the Kindness Homeless Street Team in Glasgow which has been providing meals to the most vulnerable throughout the Covid pandemic.
Its Operations Manager, Nikki Clyde, told us they have seen a big increase in the number of people coming forward for help:
“We are in a big lockdown again and people are struggling to pay bills and people are out of work, losing jobs and furlough salaries aren’t what they are used to having.”
Not just rough sleepers
Nikki also says they are seeing a wide variety of people:
“There’s old people, young people, there are people who are actually on the streets and there is people who just don’t have any money to buy food or toiletries and just want a hot drink.”
Housing Minister Kevin Stewart has told Radio Clyde:
“Without doubt, I will look into what has happened here.”
He adds there have been huge efforts to tackle homelessness in the city during the pandemic with only 2 known rough sleepers currently:
“Others are being accommodated in hotels and should have meals provided so I would be really interested in finding out what has led to that situation in George Square.”
The Scottish Government has also said £130 million has gone towards tackling food insecurity during the pandemic
The scenes in George Square have also been raised in Westminster, with SNP MP Chris Stephens challenging the Employment Minister over the UK Government’s welfare policies:
“What message do you give those in Glasgow who believe that is a powerful example of the UK Social Security system failing?”
In response, Mims Davies MP said:
“There is a lot of help out there, and it’s incumbent on us as government and as MPs to help people and point them in the right direction of support.”