Glasgow School of Art fire: Residents displaced by blaze forced to declare homelessness

An estimated 60 people were evacuated from their homes on June 15 and have been unable to return to pick up essential items including clothes, toiletries and medication.

Two weeks on from the blaze, some are living out of plastic bags with little knowledge of where they will be spending the night.

Libbie Usher, who lives on Sauchiehall Street, was moved to five different hotels in the space of a week after being evacuated.

L-R: Alexis Connor, Michael Argent and Libbie Usher

She said the process of being set up in temporary accommodation has been delayed because the council are unable to find an appropriate flat for a single tenant.

The 20-year-old nightclub worker added: “I’ve been living out of two bags and am being moved from hotel to hotel, having to carry my stuff everywhere I go.

“They told me to pack for three days so I’ve only got one casual outfit and my work uniform.

“Some of the hotels have been really scraping the barrel, you don’t know what you’re going to get from day-to-day.

“I’ve had to declare myself homeless to get access to temporary accommodation but they’re struggling to find anything for a single person within my price range.”

As the enormity of the fire unfolded, responders dealing with the incident were forced to break down doors of several homes in order to ensure the safety of people living within.

Now unable to return to the addresses, and security at the site thought to be pulling back, residents are worried their homes might be vulnerable to break-ins.

To add insult to injury, invoices have been sent to evacuees informing them that they will be required to pay for the doors to be fixed.

Michael Argent, 30, who also lives on Sauchiehall Street, has been placed in temporary accommodation with his partner.

The couple decided to take up the flat despite the fact it is a 40-minute walk from their workplaces and is more expensive than where they were living.

He said: “It was four or five days before we heard anything from the council and we were put up in hotels in the meantime.

“It’s been difficult to get things organised because the phone lines are only open during working hours when most people are unavailable.

“We’ve had to buy new clothes and toiletries with our own money which has been difficult.

“There’s a lot of people in worse situation than us, we’re grateful to have a place to stay sorted but we’re still down at Sauchiehall Street every day to see if there’s any updates.”

Following outcry from those made homeless, it has been announced that residents affected by the fire will be able to claim £3000 from a new fund set up by the Scottish Government and Glasgow City Council.

Nicola Sturgeon revealed the fund to help people who have been forced from their homes due to the safety cordon around the building.

A Hardship Relief Fund will give £1500 to residents affected which will then be matched by the city council.

Additionally, Garnethill Displaced Residents Group have made arrangements for the properties within the cordon to be made exempt from council tax.

A spokesman for the group said: “We’re still locked out our homes, were still being passed from pillar to post, we’ve still had no word from building control, there is still no communication, even today were getting rumours that the inner cordon security are leaving in the next couple of days and we don’t even know how secure our homes are after being kicked in.

“After speaking with a lot of the displaced residents we do think that there has been a dereliction of duty and complete incompetence, at no point has Glasgow City Council had a handle on the crisis management and has completely failed the displaced residents and businesses of Garnethill.

“The Scottish government needs to get all their crisis management systems reviewed, because what has happened to the displaced residents and business owners in Garnethill has been absolutely abysmal and we wouldn’t wish the stress that were are all suffering from on any other community in Scotland.”

A spokesman for Glasgow City Council said: “From the night of the fire at The Glasgow School of Art, when an emergency rest centre was established at the Mitchell Library, we have been doing everything we can to support those people evacuated from their homes who require assistance.

“There are 33 domestic properties registered within the exclusion zone. We are assisting 18 households with temporary accommodation and more with a variety of other issues, including applications to the Scottish Welfare Fund and dealing with landlords and insurers.

“However, we are obviously aware that there are other residents who have made their own arrangements – or have been adequately supported by their landlord or insurer – and have not sought any help from the council.

“If their circumstances change, support remains available and we have a team on the ground at the Dental Hospital.

“We absolutely understand that the main question people want an answer to is when they will be able to return home – it is clearly a very frustrating and trying time for those involved. However, that is not something we will even be able to estimate until significant progress has been made to make the damaged buildings safe.

“When it is safe to reduce the exclusion zone, we will.”