Taylor Swift's upcoming concerts in Edinburgh are forcing homeless people out of the city.
Shelter Scotland is reporting to BBC that several of the homeless people they support are being sent out to Aberdeen and Glasgow amid the shortage in housing accommodation with a rising amount of tourists. Being shipped out by taxi, one person has revealed that they have been offered accommodation as far away as Newcastle.
The housing charity has slammed the moves as "a blatant injustice" for the homeless population to be "in direct competition" with tourists arriving for the blockbuster concert. The Edinburgh City Council has responded that they are finding "appropriate, alternative accommodation" for those who are affected.
People who are declared homeless in Edinburgh are offered temporary living accommodations by law. But with a severe hotel shortage to make room for traveling Swifties in town for the concert, they are being sent out of the city.
As of right now, there is no evidence of homeless people being removed from their current living situation to make room for tourists. Only first-time households are being sent elsewhere.
Shelter Scotland director Alison Watson says that the complications offer further evidence that the country is dealing with a housing crisis.
"Our frontline services are already seeing people in need of a bed tonight being told their only option is to leave of the city," Watson continued. "A family going through the trauma of homelessness in Edinburgh should not have to move miles from their job, school, and community to find emergency accommodation."
The "Cruel Summer" singer is slated to play three nights at the Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh from June 8 through 9. With the stadium having a capacity of 67,144 audience members, hundreds of thousands of Swifties are flocking to the Scottish venue. The concert run has caused mayhem in the city, with fierce competition for hotel rooms.
Crowd control at the sell-out concert event has been a source of contention throughout the past few weeks. Following the launch of the tour in Europe, there have been concerns regarding the massive crowds that amass at each performance.
Last week's Portugal show at Lisbon's Da Luz Stadium reportedly started in "chaos" as the show was delayed when thousands of fans were not able to enter the venue by start time. Confusion over water bottles being permitted into the stadium left lengthy security lines while Swfities tried to figure out what they could and could not bring inside with them.
The Grammy-winner eventually started the show several minutes late, once everyone was seated.
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