Blue Triangle, a Glasgow-born charity supporting people facing homelessness, marked its 50th anniversary yesterday with a special civic reception at Glasgow City Chambers — the very city where it all began.
Founded on 5 June 1975 at Somerset Place as a refuge for young women experiencing homelessness, Blue Triangle has grown into a national housing and social care provider, operating 29 services across 10 local authorities. The organisation now supports hundreds of people every day including young people, families, asylum seekers, and individuals in recovery by offering not only a safe place to stay, but also the tools to rebuild their lives.
As Scotland’s homelessness crisis deepens, Blue Triangle’s work has never been more vital. With over 6,000 people currently on Glasgow’s homeless housing waiting list, the charity is responding with new solutions, including a £5 million investment from Social and Sustainable Capital’s SASH II fund to purchase more properties and expand support services.
Gary Meek, CEO of Blue Triangle, said:
“We started with one service here in Glasgow and we’ve expanded because the need has grown . But our focus has always been the same – helping people who are struggling to get the support and stability they need to move forward.
This milestone is a testament to the dedication of our compassionate team who go above and beyond every day to support people through some of the most difficult times in their lives.”
“We’re proud of our history but more importantly, we’re focused on the future and how we keep stepping up to meet the needs of communities across Scotland.”
The reception brought together current and former staff, supported individuals, and partner organisations. It also acknowledged Blue Triangle’s recent recognition as a finalist in the SCVO Scottish Charity Awards 2025, nominated in both the Charity of the Year and People’s Choice categories.
Founded at a time when homelessness services for women were virtually non-existent, Blue Triangle’s Somerset Place remains open today — now offering supported accommodation for young people aged 16–26. Many of the young people supported there have grown up in care or faced significant challenges, and staff provide 24/7 support to help them build confidence, independence, and a sense of community.
The organisation’s impact is felt far beyond Glasgow. In addition to supported accommodation, Blue Triangle offers outreach, recovery housing, and floating support services tailored to prevent homelessness before it starts. Its approach is built on trauma-informed care, offering safe, supportive environments that recognise the impact of difficult past experiences, while empowering people to move forward.
As the housing crisis continues to unfold, Blue Triangle is calling for greater collaboration and long-term investment in support-led solutions.
Gary Meek added:
“Homelessness isn’t just about housing, it’s about people. If we want to tackle this crisis, we need more than bricks and mortar. We need services that recognise the complexity of people’s lives, and we need to keep listening to those who’ve been through it. That’s the only way we build lasting change.”
Blue Triangle currently supports over 400 people across Scotland every day through their services and outreach work.
Between 2023-24:
43% supported people moved into their own tenancies
41% of those admitted to services were under 25 years old
35% of those entering the services experienced sleeping rough
30% of supported people faced eviction in their previous tenancies
15% of those admitted to services were fleeing violence
The highest level of admission to Blue Triangle services from 2023-24 was South Lanarkshire (35%), followed by Renfrewshire (24%) and Glasgow (12%). This year, the organisation opened the first Recovery Housing service in Kilmarnock, funded by CORRA Foundation, in partnership with East Ayrshire Drug & Alcohol Partnership.
To mark their 50th anniversary, Blue Triangle have launched a podcast, ‘A Voice in the Dark’ is available via Acast, Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts and Spotify
Notes to Editors
Photos to be credited to Alasdair Watson Photography.
For more information or to request interviews please contact: Lyndsey Murison, Communications Coordinator, [email protected], 07908993066
