Figures reveal dozens of homeless people have died in Glasgow hotels

Official figures from Police Scotland show that since March 2020, when homeless people were put into hotels in the city as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, 36 people have been recorded as sudden deaths in six hotels.

Nine people died in sudden deaths at the Alexander Thomson Hotel in Argyle Street while seven people died at the Rennie Mackintosh Hotel in Union Street.

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There were another seven sudden deaths at the Queens Park Hotel in the Southside of Glasgow.

At the St Enoch Hotel, in Howard Street, there have been eight sudden deaths recorded.

There were four sudden deaths recorded at Chez Nous Guest House in Hillhead and one sudden death reported at the Hillhead Hotel.

In total 36 deaths of homeless people put into hotels have taken place at the six hotels.

The information was obtained from Police Scotland which said the city council identified hotels where people would be accommodated during the pandemic.

Glasgow City Council said it was "regrettable that people who experience homelessness and have complex health care needs die while residing in temporary accommodation". The local authority however added that accommodation is not the cause of death.

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When Police Scotland released information on three of the hotels late last year, Chief Inspector Natalie Carr said: “We know that members of the homeless community often have complex and multiple needs and that these may have been exacerbated by the public health crisis and accompanying restrictions.

“It is a matter for the local authority where homeless people are accommodated and sites were identified to provide that accommodation on a temporary basis throughout the pandemic.

"Relevant support was also incorporated to assist those individuals with specific needs. Crime levels have been decreasing since 2020 and we are returning to what we would normally expect to see.

“We will continue to deploy proportionate resources to areas of most concern to keep our communities safe and reassure them of our visible presence.”

Sean Clerkin, of the Scottish Tenants Association, said: "Thirty-six homeless people have died sudden deaths in six hotels in Glasgow between March 2020 and present.

“The new freedom of information released by Police Scotland confirms eight deaths at the St Enoch Hotel, four deaths at the Chez Nous Guest House, and one death at the Hillhead Hotel as well as the earlier reported 23 deaths at three other hotels.”

Mr Clerkin said the local authority has “failed” to protect the very people the policy was intended to help.

He added: “All of these deaths were unnecessary and reflect on the failure of Glasgow City Council failing to protect these vulnerable homeless people, who were dumped into this often squalid and unsuitable accommodation, left on their own to fend for themselves.

“We are calling for a public inquiry into these 36 sudden deaths of the most vulnerable homeless people in Glasgow and demanding the resignation of councillor Susan Aitken, leader of an administration that failed to protect these men and women and continues to tell untruths that they provided wrap around services in these hotels for homeless people when homeless people confirm being abandoned in these awful places.”

He said the Scottish Tenants Association intends to hold a short vigil to commemorate their deaths outside the St Enoch Hotel on Tuesday at 11.45am.

A council spokesperson said: “It is regrettable that people who experience homelessness and have complex health care needs die while residing in temporary accommodation, however accommodation is not the cause of death.

“Our Homeless Services made 31,018 offers of emergency accommodation since March 2020, resulting in historically low numbers of rough sleepers in the city. They also ensured support is accessible through our Complex Needs Service and our Mental Health and Third Sector partners who operate on an outreach basis across the city’s hotels.

“Naloxone training has been provided to staff within the hotels as well as mental health and harm reduction awareness training delivered by our health and social staff.

“Service users residing in hotels are routinely assessed for eligibility for Housing First as well as other types of accommodation and we remain focused on moving people to more settled accommodation.

"We also have a dedicated team deploying health and social care support to every service user residing in hotels so they have an up-to-date safeguarding plan focusing on treatment and care plans as well as their move on plans.”