STEPS must be taken to ensure rough sleepers currently housed in hotels across in Glasgow don’t end up back on the streets.

Simon Community Scotland has managed to house people, who would normally be without a roof over their heads, in hotels across the city as well as in Edinburgh during the coronavirus outbreak.

While some people are adapting to their new lifestyle, the charity is worried others might fall back into their old street lifestyle when the pandemic is over.

In Glasgow the number of people rough sleeping has dropped from around 30 to four people.

Hugh Hill, director of services and development at Simon Community Scotland, said: “We got a sense of what was coming so we took action and bought protective equipment before the mad rush.

“We also opened up one hotel in Glasgow and two in Edinburgh to care for rough sleepers with a total of 150 beds.

“We managed to organise this within 72 hours.

“It is hard to get people off the street and some people are continuing to sleep rough.

“The number of people on our streets varies but in Glasgow there are around 30 people without a roof over their heads but right now there only between four and six people in this situation.”

Mr Hill also explained that with fewer people coming in and out of the city centre rough sleepers are more likely to take support offered by the organisation.

He added: “We currently have accommodation for those who need it so we can help.

“We need communities to help us.

“If anyone spots someone rough sleeping in Glasgow please phone 0800 027 7466 and 0808 178 2323 in Edinburgh. It would be great if people phone us if they see someone rough sleeping.”