The Council aims to make information about the Avenues Project, which
includes improving Sauchiehall Street, more accessible to everyone
The key outcome is the separation of the city centre into nine distinct areas for improvement"
issues with cleansing, public health, refuse collection, graffiti or events, then they should contact her. There will be a better marketing
campaign for the next Avenues Project to improve engagement and communications. The Council understands it needs to make information about the project more accessible.
Tackling homelessness The second session was the issue of homelessness and begging in the city centre. Many businesses feel this has reached major proportions in the city centre and involves people sleeping in doorways, mess in the streets and lanes, and a feeling of menace from some people who are aggressive through the obvious use of illegal drugs. Robin Wallace of the Simon
Community Scotland, one of the largest providers of homeless services in Scotland, spoke about the Street Outreach RSVP programme which involved 220 staff and volunteers and is
seeking to help around 3,000 people. This is about emergency provision which deals with the situation on the ground. The issue is to find a proper long-term solution dealing with the people and the reasons why they become homeless. It was not a simple matter. He said: “Not all homeless people beg. Not all beggars are homeless. Most of the rough sleepers are begging. Addiction is driving two thirds of begging. Average income is around £100 per day.” He said there was a need to open
bank accounts for the homeless and those on the margins of society. Digital and financial inclusion was vital. He said that finding a home is a
journey which requires the funding of transport, food and drink, a mobile phone and support and compassion to give people dignity.
Eleanor Lee, Principal Officer of
Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership, spoke about the next steps of Housing First, which was about helping people into a tenancy and
access to longer-term services. She said Glasgow HSCP is an agency that is serious about tackling homelessness and seeks to support them throughout their journey. It received over 5,300 applications in 2016/2017, with 61% male, and 73% between 26 to 59 years old, with over 40% having complex needs. Sergeant Susan Brown, of Police
Scotland’s Positive Outcomes Project (POP) spoke about dealing with persistent offenders who fund their drug activities from acquisitive crime. The level of drug-related deaths in Scotland is 2.5 times higher than in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and Scotland has 62,000 drug users. The POP project is seeking to
reduce the risk of drug deaths, reduce anti-social behaviour and integrate people back into the local community and family. The final speaker was Seamus
Connolly of Street Change Glasgow, another initiative by the city's Begging Strategy Group which aims to ensure people do not have to beg. A Digital Inclusion Officer has been employed to work alongside the Simon Community's Street Team. She goes out to talk to people who are begging and uses a tablet computer to ensure they are registered to receive all the benefits they are entitled to, as well as preparing them for the transition to Universal Credit.
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