THERE is now a “great chance” to end rough sleeping once and for all in Glasgow following the coronavirus lockdown, according to volunteers who work on the frontline of the crisis.

Additional funding from the Scottish Government at the end of last month meant hotel rooms could be provided for homeless people in Glasgow during the pandemic.

After setting people up in the temporary accommodation, volunteers now say the council has “no excuse” but to provide greater support once the lockdown is lifted.

Anton Reilly, from Help the Homeless Glasgow, said he was shocked but “enlightened” after coming across no rough sleepers yesterday morning as he walked the streets looking to hand out food.

He said: “I went back out to do my usual rounds, I know where they all sleep, and there was not one soul.

“I even did a wee detour down lanes to see if people were hiding out of the way, but there was not one soul – it was great to see.

“I’ve never seen anything like this, in all the years I’ve volunteered I’ve never seen anything like this before.”

READ MORE: Coronavirus: Deal to get Glasgow hotel rooms for city's homeless

Hopeful for change, Anton added: “The council now know exactly where everyone is in temporary accommodation.

“The council put them up, so they can offer them support right now.

“This is a great chance to end rough sleeping in Glasgow.

“They can step up, they’ve just proved they can do it when needed, so it’s a great opportunity to do it."

Anton added that it is “a shame” it took a pandemic for steps to take place, but added he “takes his hat off” to th council for the work they have done so far.

A spokeswoman for Glasgow’s Health & Social Care Partnership (HSCP) said: “We’d like to thank Mr Reilly for his appreciation of the task performed by homelessness services staff and our partners in the face of the current Public Health Emergency.

"Like other frontline services, we are also working with reduced staffing levels and the continued commitment to protecting vulnerable rough sleepers in these challenging circumstances is commendable.

“This also extends to the decision taken by Glasgow HSCP to provide emergency accommodation for those with No Recourse to Public Funds who were rough sleeping.

"We have always been committed to addressing the needs of rough sleepers in Glasgow and prior to the current crisis, we were actively engaging with the confirmed population of approximately 30 rough sleepers in partnership with our commissioned service, the Glasgow Simon Community Street Team.”