AN EMERGENCY street team set up in response to Storm Darcy has told how it found three men “trembling and shaking”, “red from the cold” and “chilled to the bone” in the snow on the streets of Glasgow. 

While many of us were wrapped up warm and sitting before fireplaces, volunteers from Homeless Project Scotland were battling against the elements last week to help the destitute into overnight accommodation.

They said the three men found on the city centre streets last week were discovered without ample clothing and had “nowhere to go”. 

Volunteer, Colin McInness, said: “One man was found outside McDonald’s. He was absolutely freezing – chilled to the bone. He was so cold that he was trembling and shaking with no gloves or hat on either.

READ PART TWO OF OUR SPECIAL REPORT: Glasgow councillors share growing anger over homelessness and food poverty in city

“We got him a hot drink and food and managed to get him into warm accommodation for the night.

“The other man was sitting underneath the Heilanman’s Umbrella. He was freezing too, with only a thin jacket on and his hands cupped. We were concerned for his life when we found him.”

Glasgow Times:

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After conducting medical checks and providing all three with a hot meal and warm tea, the charity was able to put two of the three men up into emergency overnight accommodation.

“We found a third man baltic, almost frozen. He was wearing a pair of joggers, just sitting on a step, freezing. I was worried for his welfare, but he refused our attempts to get him somewhere suitable to sleep.

“He didn’t want help and said that the system was broken. He didn’t trust anyone, which can be the brutal reality for a lot of these vulnerable people”, said Colin. 

The team weren’t expecting to come across anybody in need of their assistance during the storm, but nonetheless, they prepared for the worst. 

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“It was almost blizzard-like on Tuesday night. Although we weren’t expecting to have to help anybody, we came prepared to deal with finding someone who may be homeless, someone who could have died and somebody who could have overdosed.”

The charity - which normally runs a soup kitchen every Friday evening from underneath the Heilanman’s Umbrella - will continue the aid of its emergency street team until the icy elements have passed.

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Colin added: “We already knew there are rough sleepers in Glasgow, so we wanted to do ensure they wouldn’t be on the streets during the elements.

“Currently, we have two teams that split up into two. We’ll run this aid until the temperatures pick up again. Helping the homeless is what we do.”

The charity is keen to steer anybody in need of help in their direction.

“I hope that people engage with the services that are available during these hard times. We have handed out our names and numbers on cards and on phone boxes for anybody needing assistance.

“It makes me so sad and deeply worried that people are having to come for food and that some are even having to travel as far as Pollok for it.

“This type of service should really not be needed.

“Sometimes, when our service users come to us, we give them the first hot meal that they’ve had all day and by that time, it’s normally around 8pm."

If you need help from Homeless Project Scotland you can contact 0800 0147 160.

To donate, visit HERE.