Charity expects number of rough sleepers seeking help to rise
Simon Community Scotland says there has been a "surge in demand" for their support services
A homelessness charity says there has been a "surge in demand" for their support services with a big increase in requests for support expected this year.
Simon Community Scotland, which is one of Scotland's leading homeless charities working on the frontline, said they recently helped about 100 rough sleepers in Glasgow and Edinburgh.
Volunteers combed the city centres late at night where they located 80 people sleeping rough in Edinburgh and 35 sleeping rough in Glasgow.
Last month alone, the charity handled more than 2,000 requests for aid with issues such as helping people with accommodation needs, benefits, legal and financial advice, and wellbeing challenges.
The charity said it is expecting to help more than 9,500 people this year – an almost 20% increase from the year before.
That number does not include those housed in emergency shelters or temporary accommodation.
Teams "desperately overwhelmed"
Support service lead at Simon Community Scotland in Glasgow, Siobhan Paige, warned that frontline teams are "almost overwhelmed" with demand.
She said: "Our team saved dozens of lives last winter.
"If you've been out at night in Glasgow or Edinburgh, you'll have seen our Street teams with their purple backpacks helping those facing a night sleeping rough.
“It's only October and our frontline teams are almost overwhelmed with demand for support."
On Tuesday, the charity launched an emergency appeal titled A Safe Place to reflect how the provision of safe places is crucial to helping people facing homelessness.
The charity is looking to raise £200,000 to go towards safe places, including community hubs, street teams and accommodation as well as basic life essentials for people they support.
Reaching "record levels" of people needing help
Lorraine McGrath, CEO for Simon Community Scotland, said the number of people that front-line teams are supporting is reaching "record levels".
She added: "We're doing our very best to provide people with a safe place to access support and keep people safe from harm.
"But we are very stretched and desperately need more help.”
People can make a donation by visiting https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/asafeplace
It comes ahead of a “minute of noise” demonstration by Shelter Scotland staff and volunteers in Dundee at midday.
They’ll be joining campaigners in Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow as they urge politicians to act on cutting rough sleeping.
It’s to mark World Homelessness Day.