Several homeless people in Edinburgh have been forced to move out of the city to make way for tourists who are set to attend Taylor Swift’s concert next month. According to Shelter Scotland, the charity supporting the homeless individuals, the shortage of accommodation in the city has prompted a move of the homeless people to Aberdeen and Glasgow. This has resulted in homeless people being in direct competition with tourists visiting the Scottish city. Usually, people who are declared homeless in Edinburgh are given temporary accommodation in hotels.
Edinburgh City Council and much of Scotland is currently facing a Housing Emergency. There is a legal requirement for individuals declared homeless to be given emergency temporary accommodation. However, current conditions place homeless people in competition with tourists who are travelling to the city for events.
Shelter Scotland’s director, Alison Watson, has called the situation a “blatant injustice”. The housing charity has called on the Scottish Government to provide an emergency action plan to manage the crisis effectively. The Frontier Services are witnessing homeless people being told that their only option is to leave the city when they need a bed on the same night. Edinburgh’s City Council has not provided a statement regarding the current situation.
Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour has already had a significant impact on the US economy and is set to become the most profitable music tour in history, according to reports. The worldwide tour has already attracted 4.35 million attendees, generating 200 million dollars in merchandising sales. In the upcoming UK and Ireland leg, Swift will play three shows in Edinburgh’s Murrayfield Stadium. This will undoubtedly place Scotland’s accommodation under immense pressure, with housing charities such as Shelter Scotland working hard to find solutions.
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