Information on homeless services from Glasgow Simon Community

An agency combating homelessness in the area is Glasgow Simon Community. The organisation is focused on providing temporary accommodation, resettlement services, and preventing homelessness to begin with. The staff at the agency work with clients to provide them the support they need when faced with an emergency.

RSVP, or the Vulnerable People and Rough Sleepers Service, is for individuals or families in the immediate Glasgow area that are experiencing homelessness. The individuals are usually hard to reach, so volunteers and advisers from the not-for profit actually reach out to them on the streets or wherever they may reside.

A number of solutions are offered to the Rough Sleepers. Advisers from Glasgow Simon Community will try to get them settled into emergency and then long term accommodation. The person can explore programmes and social services from both the government and local councils, among others. There may be food, clothing, deposit schemes, and other housing support provided. It operates from a centre at London Road as well as Ballater Street, Gorbals.

There is also an immediate, emergency type response as part of RSVP. This will allow crisis type support to be provided to the homeless. Other services available from Glasgow Simon Community as part of this programme is Mediation, Reconnecting, Homeless Prevention and Crisis Intervention, signposting, referrals to housing payment benefits, and also alternative emergency accommodation

People with a mental health problem that are also homeless can get housing assistance from Glasgow Simon Community. Support services and referrals can direct clients to other local services and assistance programs, and a number of services are available.

Adult Intensive Housing Support Service of North Lanarkshire is free resource. It is for vulnerable individuals over the age of 25 who are identified to be at risk of future homelessness. There are different parts of the programme available.

Glasgow Simon Community staff will first and foremost work to prevent evictions and homelessness from occurring in the first place. So they try to stop rough sleeping, promote ongoing tenancy sustainment and support, and offer other aid. They may have referrals to housing and rent payment plans, and other aid.

The housing support indicated above will offer help in an emergency. Clients can get free advice and information on benefits and schemes that may be offered to them. There are also extensive referrals to other services in Lanarkshire County. Note that the individual needs to be referred by the local council.

Housing projects and solutions

All of the accommodations indicated below have limited capacity. There may often be a waiting list in place. The people that use the sites can also generally obtain life skills and self-sufficiency at the so called projects as well.

Men with Alcohol and Drug addictions can turn to the Castlemilk Project. This is a residential facility in the southern portion of Glasgow. Clients of the facility will be able to use a shared housing site, be able to enroll into life skills training, receive any needed medical care, and get other aid.

The Glasgow Simon Community Maryhill housing project is for women that have more unique needs, such as mental health or substance abuse. The site can only hold less than 10 guests at one time.

Govanhill is for currently homeless women. It is a form or resettlement and emergency service. What may be offered includes food packets, clothing, and referrals to welfare or schemes to pay a security deposit on a new home.

Another similar centre is the Kent Road facility. However this helps both women that are homeless and those that are facing eviction from their landlord. They can stay in a flat for several months and also use other classes and workshops at the site. Individuals can work with staff from Simon Community to obtain self-esteem.

For more information, Glasgow Simon Community can be reached at 472 Ballater Street, Glasgow, G5 0QW, dial 0141 418 6980.