A GLASGOW Times investigation has discovered more people rough sleeping on the streets than official figures suggest.

We spent more than an hour and a half in Glasgow city centre on Tuesday night and discovered at least seven rough sleepers.

The number of rough sleepers in Glasgow city centre has reduced since the start of the covid pandemic but sources believe it could be rising again.

Emergency measures to get people off the streets, coupled with support services working to find people accommodation, has led to the city council stating they believe the number had been reduced to fewer than five.

There is however, still a number of people on the streets and some who are delivering services fear it could be rising again.

Glasgow Times:

The council said it is aware of four long term rough sleepers it continues to engage with daily, through street teams, to offer them support and accommodation.

READ MORE:Glasgow's overnight welcome centre 'We can't go back to mattresses on floor for homeless'

The Glasgow Times walked the main city centre streets after midnight on Tuesday into Wednesday morning to see how many were sleeping rough.

Within minutes we had come across the first people sleeping rough, a man and woman, with their dog, ready to bed down on the hard pavement in their sleeping bags on Sauchiehall Street.

They have been on the streets on and off for the last five years.

The man said he has had accommodation and a tenancy before, but said: “It just didn’t work out”.

He is aware of the Overnight Welcome Centre and but shook his head when asked if he would consider going there.

His companion says she has been the victim of verbal abuse and violence and has been stabbed with a needle while on the streets.

READ MORE: Housing First helps ex homeless man who lost 21 tenancies in Glasgow

They agree numbers are low but are aware of others nearby and said one man is sleeping with just a jacket and a bin bag between him and the Glasgow winter.

The temperature is relatively mild, It is seven degrees, but if you are spending the whole night outside it feels freezing.

The woman said she hoped it doesn’t rain.

Nearby, a figure is asleep just off the main street but still in view of the many people lingering after the pubs had closed.

In Queen Street there is another person zipped up tight inside a sleeping bag, asleep.

On Argyle Street and under the Hielaman’s Umbrella there are no one to be seen who look like they are sleeping rough.

Glasgow Times:

Heading into Gordon Street however there are more people exposed to the elements.

We see three people. Two are together and one a few doorways down.

In total, between midnight and 1.30 am, we see seven people who were definitely sleeping rough in Glasgow city centre on a winter’s night.

READ MORE:Dad who lived in woods in Glasgow has new home with Housing First

An Overnight Welcome centre operates in Glasgow, run by Glasgow City Mission, replacing the old Winter Night Shelter, with private en-suite rooms and breakfast.

We were joined by Sean Clerkin and Ian McInnes, of the Scottish Tenants Organisation, who handed out leaflets with details of the official services to call for help with accommodation with those we saw.

Mr Clerkin said: “It is clear that people sleeping rough on the streets is starting to rise again in Glasgow and in other parts of Scotland and the Scottish Government has to give more resources to Local Authorities to help these homeless rough sleepers get into settled accommodation more quickly with wrap around services to help tackle drug and alcohol addiction and help those with mental health problems.

“The complacency of the Glasgow Heath and Social Care Partnership and other agencies has to be challenged as they have to create a person centred service helping the remaining people get off the streets as no one wants to return to the high numbers of rough sleepers pre pandemic.”

A spokeswoman for Glasgow’s Homeless Services said: “No-one need sleep rough in Glasgow, help is available and Glasgow’s Alliance to End Homelessness is currently running an awareness campaign highlighting how members of the public can get help for anyone who is rough sleeping.

“The Get Help Glasgow campaign is urging members of the public to store the free Rough Sleepers and Vulnerable People (RSVP) helpline number in their mobile phones, so if someone is rough sleeping and needs immediate support, the Street Team commissioned can find them and get them the right support.”

The helpline number is 0800 027 7466. More information on support and advice is available at gethelpglasgow.com