Homeless people in Edinburgh say they are living in fear on the city streets as charities warn more lives will be lost this winter.
Rough sleepers in the Capital report tents being set on fire, sleeping bags being urinated on and constant threats of violence and abuse.
One charity says 11 people they support have died on the streets of Edinburgh in the past six months alone – and warns more lives could be lost over the coming months.
‘My tents have been set on fire and slashed’
STV NewsBelle says she has been sleeping rough on Edinburgh’s Princes Street for the past six months.
“My tents have been put on fire, I’ve had tents slashed. I haven’t got anything because everything I get gets destroyed.
“No one feels safe. No one does.”
Belle says many turn to drugs to cope with the trauma of sleeping rough – even if they didn’t before.
“I was clean until I came on the street. It’s hard when it’s in your face – there’s no help to get clean,” she said.
“Not everyone is on drugs, but there are just some of us who cannot survive.”
Chelsea doesn’t work for a charity, but after witnessing the violence faced by people experiencing homelessness, she decided she wanted to help.
She now delivers supplies to people across the city.
“There are people who are being attacked on the street, and there are people who are getting urinated on. Some of the men are getting robbed and targeted by gangs as well. It’s sad.
“People will walk past and ask, ‘How much?’ People don’t respect you as a person on the streets.”
‘I never had family – it’s just me against the world’
STV NewsCharlotte is 22 years old and grew up in care.
She says perceptions about homeless people are often wrong.
“I never had a family, I’ve never had anyone who cared so for me, it’s just me against the world, that’s the way I see it. I’m surviving at the end of the day.
“There are people who will walk past you on the streets and look down at you and say, ‘you’re not homeless cause you’re too young, or you’re too clean looking’.
“It’s stereotypes, not every homeless person does drugs, not every homeless person is dirty.”
Chelsea has been working with the community to offer haircuts to people sleeping rough.
STV NewsThey offer William the chance to freshen up. He says that on the streets, even basic comfort is hard to find.
“I’m drying my sleeping bag in that dryer there. I woke up soaking wet. I’m just drying off just now,” he said.
“I’ve been homeless for about three weeks now, three weeks on the street, and it’s been horrible.”
Like many without support or a roof over their head, William says alcohol often feels like an escape.
“I stopped drinking for two years – but I started again a couple of weeks ago, as I had had enough. I needed that release.
“I’m trying to stop – but it’s kind of hard to stop drinking when you’re on the streets.”
11 deaths in six months
Homeless charities estimate that around 80 to 100 people in Edinburgh are currently living on the streets, with the number rising across Scotland.
As the temperature drops, charities fear the death toll will rise.
Simon Community’s director of operations, Fiona Williamson, said the situation is reaching a crisis point.
“We’ve had 11 deaths in Edinburgh over the last six months – people that we work with at Simon Community Scotland.
“The people that we support are terrified right now, they’re really scared. Some people who we’ve spoken to don’t know if they’re going to survive this winter.
“We’ve got a fantastic homelessness emergency action plan, but what does that mean to somebody sleeping in a tent down the road there? How does that translate into safety this winter? How does that translate into service provision?
“We’re working as tirelessly as we can, but it’s really urgent that we get support. It’s not just a council issue, it’s a community issue, and we all need to come together to be the solutions.”
The Scottish Government recently added £100,000 to an emergency fund that outreach workers like Simon Community Scotland can use to support people sleeping rough.
STV NewsMeanwhile, the housing bill passed last month is also aiming to transform homeless prevention.
Housing secretary Mairi McAllan said the government is taking action to help prevent more lives being lost in the streets – and to ensure people sleeping rough are not left at risk of violence and abuse.
“I am obviously very, very worried. We’re taking action to address all forms of homelessness, of which rough sleeping is the most acute and most harmful.
“I’m working with partners and putting money behind services which will keep people safe – the Simon Community and others who I’m trying to support to make sure they continue the fantastic work they do.
“People who are facing homelessness, particularly rough sleeping, often have a multitude of complex needs. The important thing I want to stress is it takes relationships to support people from being in the position of rough sleeping, through to settled accommodation and sustaining their tenancies.
“My heart goes out to those who not only face rough sleeping but also have to face abuse at the same time. That is absolutely unacceptable.
“It’s our driving mission to make sure nobody has to face that.”
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