Homelessness and addiction service for young people in Glasgow closes

Funding has been withdrawn for a service that has supported young people in the Southside of Glasgow for more than 20 years.

The James Shields Service, which supported young people who were experiencing homelessness and/or drug and alcohol problems, has had its funding withdrawn from Glasgow City Council, who deliver the service jointly with the charity Quarriers.

The project, based in Pollokshaws Road, has 37 self-contained bedsit flats, with 24-hour support for teenagers, many of whom have suffered violence, or exploitation, and have lived on the streets.

A spokesperson for Quarriers said:

”We are proud of this service and fully committed to supporting our 28 staff and 37 young people throughout this difficult time.”

A Glasgow City Council spokeswoman said:

“The service is no longer appropriate for the young people that use it, both in terms of its scale and the very dated environment it provides.

“We are, instead, committed to supporting people experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness in their own tenancies or in more appropriate, smaller scale supported living arrangements.”