A CAMPAIGN to end homelessness in Scotland has been launched, backed by Housing Minister Kevin Stewart and First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

They are pledging their support today in the wake of shocking revelation that at least one homeless person dies sleeping rough in Scotland every week.

Figures obtained from Glasgow City Council through a freedom of information request from our sister paper, the Sunday Herald, show that at least 39 homeless people have died in the city in the space of just 10 months. The council admits the number probably underestimates the full scale of the crisis.

The vast majority of those who died were under the age of 60.

Homeless charity Crisis estimates that nearly 700 people sleep rough on a typical night, with about 54,000 people approaching their council for help with homelessness every year in Scotland.

The charity is now trying to bring together a wide range of organisations at national and local level to bring about a national plan to end homelessness.

At the charity’s conference in Glasgow today, Stewart is expected to announce that the Scottish Government’s Homelessness Prevention and Strategy Group is to be strengthened to address the problem.

“We have some of the strongest rights for homeless people in the world and good progress is being made nationally, with a fall in the number of homeless applications,” he said.

“But there is more to do to increase the pace of change across the country. It is important we work closely with all of our partners, not just in housing but in other areas such as health, to address the underlying causes of homelessness.

“The work of Crisis staff and volunteers is valued by this government and therefore it’s vital we use that frontline experience to shape the future direction of homelessness policy in this country.

“That is why I’ll be announcing later today that we’ll be strengthening the Homelessness Prevention and Strategy Group by bringing in new members and involving ministers from across government to ensure a joined up approach to homelessness at both a national and local level.”

Stewart will be speaking at the Crisis conference – Ending Homelessness; Working Together to Think Differently – which is bringing together international speakers and policy experts to help shape the future agenda on ending homelessness.

Throughout its 50th year this year, Crisis aims to work with a wide range of organisations from the homelessness sector and beyond to build a national plan to end the most acute forms of homelessness.

It is also calling on the public to join its #EverybodyIn campaign to show their support.

“This year, Crisis marks its 50th anniversary, but this is by no means cause for celebration,” said Crisis Chief Executive Jon Sparkes. “The reason we’re still here is because we’re still needed. Thousands of people are sleeping on Scotland’s streets, on sofas and are being left for too long in unsuitable temporary accommodation.

“We want a future where we’re no longer needed, where no one has to suffer homelessness because they can’t find a place to live. Scotland already has some of the most progressive, human-rights based legislation on homelessness in the world, but we know there’s more to be done.

“Over the coming year we’ll be bringing together the people, evidence and resources to build on that, and to help make our vision a reality. We know we can’t do this alone.”