Shelter Scotland take to the streets to mark World Homeless Day

Shelter Scotland staff and volunteers took their campaign against the housing emergency to streets across Scotland on Tuesday 10 October to mark World Homeless Day. 

Campaigners were out in force in Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, and Glasgow issuing a Housing SOS. 

The charity highlighted the increasing number of people experiencing homelessness and asking the public to join in it in demanding urgent action to address Scotland’s worsening housing emergency. 

At 12:00, in each of the four cities, activists joined in a “minute of noise”, letting our politicians know loud and clear that they need to act now. 

World Homeless Day is marked each year on October 10th and unites activists working across the globe to end homelessness. 

Figures released by the Scottish Government last month show that an average of 45 children become homeless each day in Scotland. 

Our Director Alison Watson said:  

"Scotland’s housing emergency is getting worse; across the country it is devastating lives so today we’re sending out a housing SOS. 

“A household becomes homeless every 16 minutes on average, while 45 kids each day lose their home.  

“What’s so frustrating is that it doesn’t have to be like this, we know that by delivering social homes the government can end our housing emergency and give hope to the thousands of people across Scotland experiencing homelessness. 

“That’s why this World Homeless Day, we’re out on the streets not only demanding urgent action from those in power but urging the public to join our fight as well. 

“At 12 o’clock we’ll join together to make a noise that politicians can’t ignore, to demand they make sure everyone in Scotland has somewhere to call home, and to remind them that none of us will be quiet until the job is done.”