Shelter's plea to keep rough sleepers warm

MORE efforts to ensure no-one is sleeping rough on Edinburgh's streets during the cold weather should be made, a charity said.

Homeless charity Shelter said the sub-zero temperatures were endangering not only those on the street, but the thousands in cold, poor-quality housing.

Graeme Brown, director of Shelter Scotland, said: "The people we see sleeping rough are just the tip of the iceberg.

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"There are over 40,000 people who are homeless across Scotland without a home to call their own and tens of thousands living in cold, damp, bad housing.

"We must make sure people who are homeless or forced to sleep rough are not forgotten as this severe cold snap continues.

"The best local authorities will have measures in place to ensure no-one has to sleep on the streets in these extreme conditions. We urge all councils to redouble efforts to make sure they continue to fulfil this responsibility."

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