The most recent government figures show that the number of people in Scotland presenting as homeless to their local authority has continued to increase, to 57,020 in 2004-5.  In Glasgow, however, homeless applications decreased by 16%, although the city still accounts for nearly a fifth of all homeless applications in Scotland (10,627 in 2004-5).  This decrease is encouraging, and reflects the high level of investment made in services and policy which are contributing to the progress being made in Glasgow.

Nevertheless, clearly homelessness endures, and the level of repeat applications indicates that there still remains a sizeable group of individuals trapped in the cycle of homelessness.   It is this, particularly vulnerable, hard to reach, group of people, many of whom have complex needs, that are most in need of the kind of services – outreach, smaller supported accommodation projects, support for people as they move into tenancies – that GSC has successfully provided for many years, and we look forward to continuing to play a major part in the changing picture of provision in Glasgow.

Legislative and policy changes also means that all Scottish local authorities are now looking at how their services for people experiencing homelessness are delivered.  This year saw GSC gain a contract to undertake work in North Lanarkshire, and there will be further opportunities in the years ahead for GSC to share its expertise and values and provide quality, person-centred services in other surrounding local authority areas.