Glasgow tenement blocks could be converted to tackle homeless figures

Empty offices and several of Glasgow’s pre-1919 tenement blocks could be converted into homeless accommodation in a bid to tackle the growing problem.

More than 900 people claimed to be sleeping rough in the city this year.

During Thursday’s full council meeting, councillor Allan Casey advised members that officers had been working with housing associations on proposals to repurpose small offices as social rented homes and old tenements.

Questions had been raised by Baillie Soryia Siddique over how many empty office and heritage buildings had been considered for conversion to homelessness accommodation, particularly since 929 people claimed to have slept rough in Glasgow between January 1 and November 1, 2024.

Councillor Allan Casey advised that the Scottish Government had allocated £11.5 million through the affordable housing supply programme to Glasgow in 2024/25 to help bring empty social and rented properties back into use.

Councillor Casey said: “Officers are working with housing associations on proposals for bringing small offices into use as social rented homes which will directly assist with the homeless pressures.

“By their nature, these projects can be complex and take additional time and funding resources to deliver, and therefore, the focus of the 24/25 funding allocation has been on acquisitions in bringing the existing property back into use.

“A number of these homes will, of course, be our pre-1919 tenement blocks. As part of the wider affordable housing supply programme – a number of heritage buildings have been converted into housing.

“In terms of the conversion of office accommodation, a building in St Enoch is being taken forward this year with another office conversion at the point of being submitted for planning in Anniesland also.

“Conversion of such buildings provides an attractive way of reusing them and often providing unique homes; however, such developments are technically and financially challenging.”

Councillor Casey also pointed out that the number of people who claimed to have slept rough in Glasgow was much higher than the figures held by the homeless charity Simon Community Scotland.

He continued: “The data quoted in the rough sleeper numbers, where 929 people claimed to sleep rough between January 1, 2024, and November 2024, is taken from self-reported questions that are asked to homeless households when an application is made.

“Homeless staff meet with the Simon Community on a weekly basis along with staff from our complex needs for individuals who are sleeping rough and to offer accommodation and support where possible.

“The weekly data by Simon Community shows that the number of people who are rough sleeping is significantly lower than those who are self-reporting. Those numbers fluctuate between 25 and 30 people at any one time.”