'It is a hell-hole': mothers tell of sons who died in homeless hotels

Linda McVean and Maureen Thomson joined a protest outside the City Chambers to highlight the conditions people are forced to endure in hotels in the city.

Body bags were laid out in front of the Chambers, ahead of a meeting of Glasgow City Council, to represent and remember the people who have died in the hotels.

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Linda McVean’s son Frankie died in the Queen’s Park Hotel in May this year. He was 30 years old.

She said he did not have a drug problem when he was first moved there in November 2022.

But after six months of living in homeless hotels, he was found dead from a Valium overdose.

Linda, from Pollok, is calling for people to be given the support they need when in homeless accommodation and for the accommodation to be fit for people to live in.

She said: “At first, I was angry and wanted these hotels closed.  But people need somewhere to go. They need social workers and drug workers in the hotels.

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“All Frankie was given to eat was a small box of cornflakes in the morning. He was treated like trash.”

She added: “We are here in front of these body bags and one represents my son.”

Johnny Gunn, Linda’s partner said: “Frankie wasn’t into drugs, he liked a drink but that was it.

“The hotels are being paid good money but there is no support for people.”

The couple have met with First Minister, Humza Yousaf, to highlight the problem and ask for additional support.

 Maureen Thomson's son Gary, died in the Tartan Lodge Hotel in June this year. He was 45.

She said: “Gary came out of prison and was in rehab and he pleaded with them not to be put in one of the hotels.

“He was moved around several times, then was put in the Tartan Lodge, where he died.

“Gary said it was like going into a dungeon, a hell-hole.”

The mum, from Penilee, gave a message to people currently living in the hotels.

Maureen added: “You are human beings, people who deserve to be treated with respect.

“Always believe that you are a somebody. I hope and pray that being here today can help.

“Remember you are important. Say no to the street Valium and tell yourself every day you are somebody.”

Months later, Maureen is still waiting for the cause of Gary’s death.

She said: “We are waiting on a toxicology report which they said would be six months.

“The police said they didn’t find any drugs in Gary’s room.”

At the protest organised by Homeless Project Scotland and Scottish Tenants Organisation, it was demanded that more homes be made available to solve the crisis.

Sean Clerkin, campaign Co-ordinator of STO, said: “Enough is enough. There are going to be thousands more this winter in temporary accommodation and on the streets.”

He said the council and police need to be given more money to provide homes and to crack down on the illegal street Valium trade.

He added: “Millions of pounds more needs to be spent on social rented homes.

“One thousand additional asylum seekers will be made homeless this winter.

"The indigenous population and asylum seekers need help not pitted against one another as some people are trying to do.”

A spokesperson for Glasogw City Council said: “Any death in temporary accommodation is a tragedy, and our thoughts are with any families affected.

"Many complex and overlapping factors often contribute to deaths in temporary accommodation and the relevant city conveners and senior officers have expressed their willingness to meet with families to discuss their concerns directly.”