Glasgow will find it difficult to meet a target of ending the use of bed and breakfast for homeless people in three years' time, a council official has warned.

There are currently around 680 people being accommodated in B&Bs in the city as the number of homeless people outstrips the supply of suitable housing in both temporary accommodation and permanent homes.

Last year, the Glasgow Times reported the number of homeless people in bed & breakfast rooms in the city in July was 625. By October that had increased to 680.

READ MORE: Children spend a year in temporary homeless accommodation in Glasgow

The council has a strategy that aims to meet its commitment to ending the use of Bed & Breakfast over three years.

Jim McBride, Chief Officer, of Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership, has told councillors, that recent events will make that difficult to achieve.

He said that attempts to secure more properties from Registered Social Landlords are proving tough with fewer people moving home and not enough empty properties becoming available.

Mr McBride produced a briefing for councillors in the city, Anderston and Yorkhill area updating them on progress.

 He said: “Work to reduce the use of bed and breakfast accommodation is highly reliant on Homelessness Services securing a continued increase in the number of settled lets for homeless households, improved outcomes in relation to prevention activities and improvements in void property management processes for temporary furnished flats.

“Due to the level of demand for settled accommodation for homeless households, Glasgow HSCP asked RSLs to provide 60% of all settled lets for 2022/23. However, it is unlikely that this will be achieved during this period despite the positive joint working which promoted a greater emphasis on earlier intervention, prevention and support ensuring tenancy sustainment wherever possible."

He expected more people to become homeless and come forward for help.

READ MORE: Homelessness increases in Glasgow over summer, new figures show

MR McBride added: “The current cost of living crisis is also likely to undermine attempts to reduce bed and breakfast use, as more people may require homeless assistance and emergency accommodation.

"In addition, RSL partners have informed Glasgow HSCP that there has been an overall reduction in the availability of void properties as fewer people are moving home.

“This is also being exacerbated by longer void periods due to utility provider issues with meter appliances and some supply chain issues within the construction industry. These factors, taken together, may undermine progress with the reduction in bed and breakfast use.”

Mr McBride said that the council and health and social care partnership had expanded its operation to offer support to more people including those categorised as having no recourse to public funds.

He said efforts have led to a sustained reduction in the level of rough sleeping in the city, adding: “It must be noted that all eligible rough sleepers have access to emergency accommodation if they choose to access it.”

The war in Ukraine is also having an impact as Glasgow has welcomed refugees to the city.

Mr McBride said the Scottish Government’s announcement of the departure of the ship MS Ambition docked in Glasgow by the end of March 2023 means there is a need for accommodation for 480 households in Glasgow and across Scotland.