Due to prolonged domestic abuse in my ‘3 bed semi existence’ I was left with no alternative but to escape toxic
influences in my life. by escaping with no safe option on the horizon. Initially I would book into budget hotels at roughly
£60 – 70 per night. However, my first Saturday evening I was shocked to discover the cheapest hotel – a substandard b &
b outside the city centre – cost an eye watering £250 per night. It would not be too long before i had no alternative but to
wander the streets in what would be a very bleak experience.

On this expensive Saturday night, I found myself wet and dangerously cold at 3am. Purely by chance, I walked from
Argyle St and up Glassford St in Glasgow where, quite miraculously, I met Gary, a blue shirted angel from the homeless
project situated there. I have now had the pleasure of meeting and dealing with several volunteers who relentlessly
provide vital and life saving services to the most vulnerable in our society. Homelessness is seldom a sole predicament
and volunteers here also have to cope with associated societal problems such as mental health issues, drug issues etc.

The homeless project and the indoor sleeping arrangements they provide are insufficient to cover the full needs of the
city’s homeless requirements. When indoor beds are fully allocated, a small overspill is accommodated on the pavement
outside where basic one man tents are provided along with duvet and pillow. This spectacle is taken away first thing in
the morning to ensure that we do not damage the pretense which is presented to the tourists in the city during daylight
hours. My only disappointment with the homeless project has been the lack of toilet facilities for those sleeping outside
during night time hours. I would not, however, let this detract from my admiration and respect for the volunteers who
have their heads down and their backsides up as they fight the good fight nightly at the very cutting edge of the city’s
homelessness problem. I would go as far as to say that Gary and his team of volunteers saved my life on a dank,
miserable and wet night.

After sleeping on the pavement in a small tent, I was informed that I was being offered a room in a ‘hotel’ for the
foreseeable future.

The Qeens Park Hotel to be precise.

My interactions with the daytime staff were positive but I cannot extend this description to the jobsworth staff covering the night shift.

I lasted less than 40 hours in what is euphemistically named a ‘hotel’.

On ‘booking in’, I was asked to declare my bank balance as one of three fellow guests was being given a stern final warning concerning
the discovery of broken, dirty needles in his bedroom. I was informed of the midnight curfew, informed that I could have not a single
visitor in my room for a coffee. In addition, going outside with a paper coffee cup to enjoy a cigarette was off limits.

The term ‘hotel’ is used to describe an establishment where ‘drug addled, draconian poor house’ would be more appropriate and give
visitors a more accurate perception of what kind of ‘hotel’ they are entering. This was followed with 48 hours straight on the streets which I discovered, has jeopordised my personal safety.

If it is fair to judge a society by how the most vulnerable in that society are treated, then things are not looking too good folks!

We are informed that there is a housing crisis in the city. I do not buy in to this understanding at all. I believe we have a moral crisis and a
prioritisation crisis. Less than 2 weeks ago, SIR Starmer, the on-notice public servant announced very discreetly that he was providing
his warlord friends of the military industrial complex, a staggering 81 BILLION pounds for the purpose of funding and arming the most
heinous humanitarian atrocities in certain parts of this world.

I’m afraid i have now categorised ‘ dignity and respect’ alongside such classics as ‘ all equal under the law’ and other such societal
myths.

Should you find yourself or a loved one in a homelessness situation in Glasgow, I would recommend as an alternative to a ‘hotel’,
carrying out an act which gets you arrested. At least you will not be evicted from a cell at 4am and you may even get a cup of tea or
coffee.

If you doubt the extent and severity of the homelessness problem in the city, take a walk down any street you like, where you will
observe a staggering number of homeless and struggling human beings. You will also observe ever increasing numbers of righteous
individuals taking it upon themselves to do something urgently regarding the ‘work’ of our military industrial complex, assisted by a
corrupt British establishment which blatantly lacks any moral compass.

If these observations fail to disturb or upset you, then I would suggest a long, hard look in a mirror.

As a solution, I suggest that we take a big ruler and draw some lines which we don’t dare cross, and hold leaders to
meet basic moral obligations.

As a suggestion, we could commence making decisions by determining things on the basis of right/wrong instead of bowing to the usual profit/loss model. We could demand that Sir Starmer put back the 81 Billion he has dished out to ensure the continued unlawful killings and suffering of mainly children, continues unabated. What could be achieved with this colossal sum?

Imagine a man in a bar buying everybody beer and getting drunk on his own immorality, spending hundreds of pounds. He then goes home to tell his children there will be no dinner due to the household budget crisis!!

What brings extreme anger and disgust is the fact that the life saving, essential services, kindness and compassion offered by the homeless project in Glasgow’s Glassford St, receives ZERO funding from those the taxpayer holds to account. They are 100% dependent on the kind donations they receive from ordinary people with a conscience. ZERO!!!!

Joe public can go and thank the people with a demonstrable conscience who VOLUNTEER to rescue the most vulnerable in our society. UNPAID!! Not one red cent do these people get for picking up heavy responsibilities those in positions of power have both legal and lawful responsibility for.

We assign Billions for war and death to the big gravy train.

Homelessness? Sorry! Insufficient funds! Crisis!

You bet there’s a crisis but it has nothing to do with lack and more to do with the highly questionable, cold, calculating and thoroughly immoral, depraved decisions from those we entrust with the distribution of taxpayer money!

Gary and the angel volunteers would be delighted to hear from any good souls who can help with either volunteering or donating to these efforts:

https://homelessprojectscotland.org/

Paul J Mcconnell

No Fixed Abode!