Glasgow City Council 'struggling' with number of refugees putting pressure on public services

Glasgow City Council has said the number of homeless refugees and asylum seekers is putting public services under too much pressure, and is struggling to cope with demand.

The city has built its reputation on being welcoming and open to people of all races and nationalities, proud of its “People Make Glasgow” brand.

However, the council’s statement on the issue has caused some to doubt that slogan.

It comes as a UK Government minister cancelled their attendance at a meeting on Monday morning with the Scottish Government, council and other representatives to discuss the situation in the city.

Glasgow houses around 4,000 asylum seekers, which the council has warned is too many to cope with.

The city has declared a housing emergency, with record numbers of homeless people living in temporary accommodation.

Councillor Allan Casey, the council’s convener for homelessness, said: “We will always be a welcoming city and Glasgow is world-renowned for its welcoming nature and we will continue to do so.

“I suppose where we are coming from is that that has to be backed up with finances and funding from the UK Government to ensure that we’ve got the facilities to deal with some of the issues that we’ve got here.”

Shirley-Anne Somerville, social justice secretary, told STV News: “We need to recognise why people are being made homeless and prevent that homelessness, that’s why when were dealing with a situation in Glasgow.

“We do need to look at the number of people coming through the asylum process that are creating those additional challenges. But we will work with the council, have been doing and will keep doing to do so and hope the UK Government does the same.”

The Home Office said it is supporting councils as they deal with an asylum backlog. It also said there needs to be a smooth transition when it comes to housing people who are granted status to remain.

For those who are already settled here, the feeling of uncertainty over the future for others isn’t far from their mind.

Mursal Noori fled Afghanistan just days before the Taliban invasion. Glasgow is now her new home, but she struggled to find accommodation when she first arrived in the city.

“It takes time to settle down and get used to the situation, it was a shock for me,” she told STV News.

“When you are in a good housing situation and you are able to communicate with other people around you and make friends, it helps a lot.

“Having a sense of community and being welcomed is everything.”

Sabir Zazai from the Scottish Refugee Council said: “We’re not building homes or bridges, we’re creating divisions between communities and I think if we have a solution to something like homelessness, which is damaging lives, we need to be able to find solutions which are encompassing of everyone’s needs and particularly those who are looking for our compassion and kindness.”