Heavily Pregnant Woman Allegedly Denied Emergency Housing by Glasgow Council

A heavily pregnant woman, 34 weeks into her term, has reportedly been left homeless in Glasgow after being denied emergency accommodation by the city council. The Homeless Project Scotland charity intervened, providing a mattress on their shelter floor after volunteers claim officials stated that "unborn children have no rights."

Colin McInnes, chief executive of Homeless Project Scotland, described the situation as one of the most "horrific" he has encountered. The 26-year-old woman reportedly arrived at the charity's base on Tuesday evening, having traveled from London and allegedly fleeing an abusive relationship.

Volunteers contacted Glasgow City Council's out-of-hours emergency service for assistance. According to the charity, after a four-hour interview, the woman was told to return to London to seek accommodation. A charity worker, identified as Sebastian, stated he was informed during this interaction that the unborn baby possessed "no human rights."

Homeless Project Scotland issued a statement urging Glasgow City Council to review the handling of the case, emphasizing that "someone seeking refuge from violence deserves to have their circumstances heard and their safety taken seriously."

McInnes recounted that a taxi was sent to collect the woman, but she was later returned to the night shelter. "They told me, 'Unfortunately this lady is going to have to sleep on the streets because we won’t be accommodating her,'" McInnes stated, recounting the alleged comment about the unborn child's rights.

Glasgow currently houses over 3,500 migrants receiving housing support, alongside 7,711 homeless adults and 2,931 homeless children. The city accounts for approximately half of the 6,500 migrants receiving housing support across Scotland.

The Glasgow Health and Social Care Partnership, responsible for community health and social work services, confirmed they are reviewing the incident and engaging with the individual, stating she "is being supported appropriately."

In separate but related contexts, recent data indicates a significant number of homeless deaths in England and Wales. Official figures from the Office for National Statistics suggest 974 people died while homeless in England and Wales in 2025. Independent research by the Museum of Homelessness estimates this figure to be higher, at 1,720 deaths, including 51 children, last year. The average age of death for individuals experiencing homelessness is cited as 43 for women and 47 for men.