SCOTLAND’S biggest council has become the latest authority to declare a housing emergency.

At a meeting of its city administration committee this morning, Glasgow City Council became the third local authority in Scotland to make the declaration — after Argyll & Bute and Edinburgh.

Shelter Scotland has campaigned for all Scottish public bodies to make the declaration as part of its effort to put homelessness, housing precarity and soaring rents at the centre of the political agenda.

Despite the setback of the SNP-Green Scottish government refusing to back a Labour motion for a nationwide declaration at Holyrood last week, the charity sees its adoption in Scotland’s largest city as a major victory.

There are about 5,000 households in the city in temporary accommodation — the highest number in Scotland.

Addressing the meeting, Shelter Scotland’s Alison Watson said Glasgow has a “proud history of standing up for people at the sharpest end of inequalities and injustice.”

She said: “Glasgow is in the grip of a devastating housing emergency which is damaging the health and wellbeing of thousands of people here.”

The SNP’s homelessness lead councillor Allan Casey called for additional support from Scottish and UK governments to tackle the crisis.

He said: “The city is experiencing an overwhelming increase in people presenting as rough sleepers as well as a significant rise in individuals, from elsewhere in the UK, seeking assistance here in Glasgow.

“There is no doubt that the pressures we are facing an emergency.

“We agree with partners that we urgently need resources to help us deal with these added pressures.”