I slept on the street over the 'hellhole' hostel my brother died in

Daniel Thomson was devastated after losing Gary Thomson who died in the Tartan Lodge last year to a drug overdose.

The 37-year-old, who lives in Shawlands, claims he wasn’t aware of his brother ever using hard drugs before staying at the establishment but believes the poor conditions of the hostel left him self-medicating.

Gary Thomson died in the homeless hostel (Image: Sourced)

He remembers Gary telling him how strangers often tried to rob him and break into his room, with staff not intervening.

Daniel then vowed to never stay in Glasgow’s homeless accommodation, and instead took his chance on the streets for eight months himself before getting housing.

READ MORE: Glasgow Times new campaign: End the Homeless Hotel Shame

He explained: “My brother was not looked after at all while staying in the homeless hostel, he said it was a hellhole.

“I was never aware of him touching hard drugs before he stayed there, but after two weeks in there things changed.

“He told me there was drugs everywhere inside the place, which the staff didn’t do enough to stop.

"The staff weren't even nice to us after he died and we tried to find out what happened.

“There were also people constantly trying to get in his room to steal his money and clothes, it wasn’t a nice place at all.

“He also said there were horrible noises coming from other rooms and at night that he had to listen to.

“I would never stay there, it is a nightmare. When I was homeless I slept on the streets instead of ever going to Glasgow’s homeless accommodations.

"It is awful.”

Daniel Thomson shared his story with the Glasgow Times (Image: Newsquest)

READ MORE: My story from New York fashion scene to Glasgow Homeless hotel

Daniel became homeless after going through a breakup with his partner last year, and was forced to give up his job as a cook to get a higher place on the housing waitlist.

We previously reported how he was left in despair after being offered a home - only for it to take months to become ready to move into.

He slept on the street in winter while waiting for the keys to the housing association flat.

The Glasgow Times with Govan Law Centre has launched the End the Homeless Hotel Shame campaign. (Image: Sourced)

Now he has finally got his own place he is speaking to the Glasgow Times as part of our End the Homeless Hotel Shame campaign with Govan Law Centre.

We are calling for a rigorous inspection regime to force owners to improve the conditions of these hotels and hostels.

The campaign also wants the Scottish Government to provide funding to ensure there is enough social housing and the UK Government to compensate Glasgow for the high number of asylum seekers and refugees who end up homeless.

The Glasgow Times attempted to contact the Tartan Lodge hotel for comment.