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Glasgow night shelter forced to close after two test positive for coronavirus
A winter night shelter for rough sleepers in Glasgow has been forced to close its doors after one staff member and one guest tested positive for coronavirus.
In a statement posted on the organisation’s Facebook page, Glasgow City Mission (GCM) said it had been instructed by the Scottish government to close after it was revealed that the individuals had contracted the virus.
The statement read: “The COVID-19 crisis has reinforced to us at GCM that shelters are not an appropriate accommodation solution during a pandemic.
“We are grateful for the response of the first minister this afternoon and now await confirmation from our partners at the Glasgow City Council Health and Social Care Partnership (GCCHSCP) what alternative appropriate accommodation will be made available and how to direct our guests to access it.
“There are a significant number of highly vulnerable persons in our city whose status provides no recourse to public funds who will also require immediate attention and accommodation.
“To wilfully continue to house people in shelter-style environments is, for us, to demonstrate contempt not compassion. To continue to allow mass sleeping in the face of advice to the contrary is to put vulnerable people at significant intentional risk, while on the face of it keeps many onlookers satisfied that ‘at least they are not out in the cold’.
“It is, in our mind, a case of out of sight is out of mind. We cannot do that in good conscience.”
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The shelter, which was due to be open until the end of the month, closed last night with immediate effect. However, GCM’s day centre, which operates on a different site, remains open.
GCM added: “We look forward to a confirmed solution for all people requiring accommodation with access to bathrooms, where support can be given, and isolation feasible.
“COVID-19 is going to change how we think about many things, we trust that it will be a turning point for the way in which we approach the accommodation of all vulnerable people who have sought a safe haven in Scotland.”
On Wednesday, the Scottish government announced an additional £350m for local authorities and charities to help with individuals who are most affected by coronavirus, including homeless people.
Alison Watson, deputy director at Shelter Scotland, said: “Our sympathies go to the two people affected and their friends and colleagues. We wish them a quick and full recovery.
“It is not acceptable in a country with some of the most progressive homelessness legislation in the world, which should guarantee homeless people proper emergency accommodation at all times, that even in a pandemic this was not implemented.
“You can’t stay home if you don’t have one. There should be no need for night shelters. There should be better. Now and forever.”
A spokesperson for Glasgow City Council said: “GCHSCP is busy putting in place contingency plans to reduce risk to vulnerable homeless people, many of whom have underlying health conditions.
“This involves working with a range of stakeholders including Police Scotland and those concerned with housing and health, as well as third sector partners like the Simon Community.
“This is a charity we work closely with and whose street team build up relationships with rough sleepers. We’re currently identifying temporary furnished flats that would allow people to self-isolate if necessary as well as self- contained spaces within communal accommodation.”
