Calendar An icon of a desk calendar. Cancel An icon of a circle with a diagonal line across. Caret An icon of a block arrow pointing to the right. Email An icon of a paper envelope. Facebook An icon of the Facebook "f" mark. Google An icon of the Google "G" mark. Linked In An icon of the Linked In "in" mark. Logout An icon representing logout. Profile An icon that resembles human head and shoulders. Telephone An icon of a traditional telephone receiver. Tick An icon of a tick mark. Is Public An icon of a human eye and eyelashes. Is Not Public An icon of a human eye and eyelashes with a diagonal line through it. Pause Icon A two-lined pause icon for stopping interactions. Quote Mark A opening quote mark. Quote Mark A closing quote mark. Arrow An icon of an arrow. Folder An icon of a paper folder. Breaking An icon of an exclamation mark on a circular background. Camera An icon of a digital camera. Caret An icon of a caret arrow. Clock An icon of a clock face. Close An icon of the an X shape. Close Icon An icon used to represent where to interact to collapse or dismiss a component Comment An icon of a speech bubble. Comments An icon of a speech bubble, denoting user comments. Comments An icon of a speech bubble, denoting user comments. Ellipsis An icon of 3 horizontal dots. Envelope An icon of a paper envelope. Facebook An icon of a facebook f logo. Camera An icon of a digital camera. Home An icon of a house. Instagram An icon of the Instagram logo. LinkedIn An icon of the LinkedIn logo. Magnifying Glass An icon of a magnifying glass. Search Icon A magnifying glass icon that is used to represent the function of searching. Menu An icon of 3 horizontal lines. Hamburger Menu Icon An icon used to represent a collapsed menu. Next An icon of an arrow pointing to the right. Notice An explanation mark centred inside a circle. Previous An icon of an arrow pointing to the left. Rating An icon of a star. Tag An icon of a tag. Twitter An icon of the Twitter logo. Video Camera An icon of a video camera shape. Speech Bubble Icon A icon displaying a speech bubble WhatsApp An icon of the WhatsApp logo. Information An icon of an information logo. Plus A mathematical 'plus' symbol. Duration An icon indicating Time. Success Tick An icon of a green tick. Success Tick Timeout An icon of a greyed out success tick. Loading Spinner An icon of a loading spinner. Facebook Messenger An icon of the facebook messenger app logo. Facebook An icon of a facebook f logo. Facebook Messenger An icon of the Twitter app logo. LinkedIn An icon of the LinkedIn logo. WhatsApp Messenger An icon of the Whatsapp messenger app logo. Email An icon of an mail envelope. Copy link A decentered black square over a white square.

Aberdeen’s hidden homelessness crisis as ‘extreme’ gap between rich and poor widens

Aberdeen City Council noted that the need for temporary housing has "considerably increased" over the last year.

Aberdeen Cyrenians staff and volunteers oversee the charity's foodbank service.
Aberdeen Cyrenians staff and volunteers oversee the charity's foodbank service. Image: Kath Flannery/DC Thomson

Entering the Cyrenians’ Aberdeen base, Donna Hutchison tells us to forget the cliches about homelessness.

The tireless volunteer explains that there can be many reasons for people to seek a new roof over their heads, and that the definition extends far beyond the unfortunate folk we see sleeping rough in the city centre.

The figures in the Granite City are rising as more and more people seek help for the first time in their lives.

Cyrenians volunteers on Union Street
Cyrenians volunteers on Union Street. Image: DC Thomson

These statistics are spiking in part due to family friction – which can often follow a young person coming out as LGBTIQA+.

But it’s much more than just that. Charity leaders say there is a “tale of two cities” at play, with the “extreme” gap between wealth and poverty only growing wider.

I’m visiting with councillors just weeks ahead of tough budget decisions that could have an impact on the charity.

And Cyrenians volunteers are making it clear that they need every penny of funding they can get.

How does rising homelessness impact on public purse?

Aberdeen City Council is struggling to cope with rising levels of homelessness and the issue is hitting the local authority’s already strained finances.

A recent report warned that “significant levels” of temporary accommodation are needed to ensure those in need have a roof over their heads.

And the issue is getting worse, with it deemed an “emerging cost pressure”.

It also said the need for temporary housing had “considerably increased” over the last year.

On our visit to the Cyrenians base, we found out why.

Two people in a foodbank
Aberdeen Cyrenians has been providing help and support to many struggling in the city for decades. Image: Kath Flannery/DC Thomson

Homelessness on the rise in Aberdeen

The charity’s latest annual report revealed that there has been a “substantial” rise in the number of people finding themselves homeless.

In January 2023, they noted that there had been a 22% increase in families forced into temporary housing from the previous year.

It suggested that home for many in the city was “no longer a place of sanctuary and security but a source of anxiety, worry and uncertainty”.

What is the definition of homelessness?

For Aberdeen Cyrenians, someone is homeless if they don’t have access to stable, secure, safe and functional housing.

This can include those who sofa surf, have no legal right to live in a property, or if someone is faced with an “unsafe environment”.

People can also become homeless after losing their job, through violence or dealing with mental health struggles, substance abuse or the breakdown of a relationship.

When giving presentations at schools, Cyrenians staff ask pupils what they think is the most common reason for homelessness in the UK.

Aberdeen City Council received more homeless applications in 2022/23 compared to the previous year. Image: Scottish Government

Donna, who is head of corporate and business services, revealed that they always get “quite a mix of answers”.

But youngsters are surprised to find out the main cause is due to family breakdowns, something that is an issue in the local LGBTIQA+ community.

So what does the local authority do about it?

Aberdeen City Council currently has a rapid rehousing programme to ensure that anyone seeking help can be given access to accommodation as soon as possible.

Shelter Scotland’s ‘scorecard’ shows how well Aberdeen City Council is addressing homelessness. Image: Shelter

It has more than 350 flats across the city that are kept aside especially for homeless people.

The local authority set itself a target to build 385 affordable homes per year to help keep on top of the issue.

And latest figures from Shelter revealed that Aberdeen was on target, with 467 properties built between April to December 2022.

Why is there ‘a tale of two cities’ in Granite City?

But in Aberdeen there is “a tale of two cities” as it has many who live comfortably, while others struggle to make ends meet.

According to the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation, just about a third (33.2%) of Aberdeen residents live in the most deprived areas of Scotland, up from 28% in 2019.

An aerial photo of Aberdeen's Union Street
Aberdeen has areas of great affluence but some parts face great deprivation. Image: Kenny Elrick/DC Thomson

And 48% of those living in social housing in the city are in fuel poverty.

On the other hand, 36.7% of Aberdeen residents live in the most affluent areas of the country and just 10% of property owners face fuel poverty.

But Donna warned that this “extreme” gap is a challenge and continues to widen.

Accessing cost-of-living support

Aberdeen Cyrenians regularly sees around 800 people a month through its food bank service.

It provided 244 Christmas and New Year meals over the recent festive period and distributed more than 8,000 food parcels in 2023.

The charity noticed there had been an increase in the number of families needing support last year, noting it was “new and not seen before”.

Councillors Christian Allard and Desmond Bouse with Donna Hutchison, head of corporate and business services, Sandy Anderson, finance manager, and Jen McAughtrie, head of services at the Aberdeen Cyrenians
Councillors Christian Allard and Desmond Bouse with Donna Hutchison, head of corporate and business services, Sandy Anderson, finance manager, and Jen McAughtrie, head of services at the Aberdeen Cyrenians. Image: Aberdeen City Council

It believes this rise is due to the fact struggling families are having to access help for the first time and don’t know where to turn.

In-work poverty has also become a worrying issue.

The charity has given aid to those who have jobs but are finding it harder to pay for essentials including food and energy as well as rent or mortgages.

Donna revealed that the food they pack into parcels or use at the charity’s recently reopened community cafe is all donated by kind-hearted residents or firms.

Jennifer McAughtrie and Donna Hutchison
Jennifer McAughtrie and Donna Hutchison with some of the donated food items. Image: Kath Flannery/DC Thomson

Supermarkets Aldi and Asda regularly provide the charity with fresh fruit and vegetables, tinned goods and longer shelf life items such as pasta and rice.

They even supply cat and dog food to ensure four-legged family members are catered for.

Meanwhile, fresh bakery items are sent in by local businesses including The Bread Guy.

But Donna bluntly warned that the charity can’t satisfy the level of demand that’s coming through and admitted: “It’s not getting easier any time soon.”

‘We hope people reach out prior to crisis’

Aberdeen Cyrenians’ head of services, Jennifer McAughtrie, told us that more people are continually having to choose between eating or heating due to rising costs.

Jennifer McAughtrie
Jennifer McAughtrie, head of services at Aberdeen Cyrenians. Image: Kath Flannery/DC Thomson

She said: “There is an increasing problem, especially with the amount of people that are going into temporary housing, and it’s the cost-of-living and the impact that’s having on everybody.

“The impact that has on your mental wellbeing, that social isolation and not being able to connect with people.

“Some people go to their maladaptive coping strategies, and that is not ideal.”

Jennifer added: “We just hope that people do reach out prior to crisis.”

Council keen to work in partnership with Aberdeen Cyrenians

My visit to the Summer Street base coincided with that of the council’s anti-poverty committee.

Councillors were given a presentation full of eye-opening figures that highlighted how much help the charity has provided in the city over the last year.

The committee was also given a tour around the base, and met some of the hard working volunteers who dedicate their spare time to helping those in need.

Jennifer McAughtrie of Aberdeen Cyrenians shows Christian Allard and Desmond Bouse rails of donated clothes
Jennifer McAughtrie of Aberdeen Cyrenians shows councillors Christian Allard and Desmond Bouse the clothes that have been generously donated to the charity. Image: Aberdeen City Council

Convener of the committee, Christian Allard found the visit around the charity to be “humbling”.

Charity praised for pioneering work

Aberdeen Cyrenians was founded in 1968 by Aberdeen University students, starting out as a soup kitchen on Castlegate using unused items from the halls of residence.

One of its founders, Sandy Murray, still keeps in touch to hear how the charity is getting on.

But the charity has led the way for various schemes over the years.

Sandy Murray leaning against a wall with his arms crossed
Aberdeen Cyrenians founder Sandy Murray. Image: Kath Flannery/DC Thomson

For example, in the 1970s Aberdeen Cyrenians established the first homelessness day centre.

While in 1986 it set up the first wet hostel in the UK, a pioneering concept that has since been replicated across Europe.

The residential service provides support for those struggling with substance use and still operates today at Wernham House on Virginia Street.

Meanwhile, Aberdeen Cyrenians, working with Social Bite and CFINE, was the first food bank to offer a delivery service during the pandemic.

Conversation