We feel isolated since our homeless library lost its home

A couple who credit a homeless library in Edinburgh with helping turn their lives around say they feel isolated after it closed overnight.

Michelle Kwiatek and Colin MacMillan said the Streetreads Library was a refuge when they spent more than five years living on the streets and in hostels.

Managers of the service have been looking for a new home since January when the lease on a premises at a Methodist Church in Nicholson Square was not renewed.

The church's minister, the Reverend James Patron Bell, said they made the decision amid concerns about the safety of tenants, visitors and staff.

Michelle, 45, told BBC Scotland News the library gave her and her partner something "normal" to do every day.

"I've read lots of books while being homeless but it wasn't just about the books," she said.

"It gave us a community of like-minded people who were trying to change their lives and make a difference, who just wanted to come together and drink tea or take part in making things and that's what was important.

"Now we are isolated and on our own just constantly asking if they have found a new home for the library, it's not good and it's not the same."

The library was operated by homeless charity Simon Community Scotland and funded solely through donations and fundraising.

Its 250 users could spend as much time in there as they wanted, without having to spend money or even read a book.

Some said they didn't want to use council-run libraries because they felt they stood out as homeless.

Colin, who stopped taking heroin and crack cocaine four years ago, said the library offered a unique service.

The 41-year-old said: "When we were at the library it was really helping us stay off the drugs.

"It was really helping us keep on the straight and narrow."

The library was founded by Rachel Cowan in 2021, after she offered to buy a sandwich for a homeless person - they told her they would rather have a book.

With the help of Streetwork, a department of Simon Community Scotland, she opened the library in the basement of City of Edinburgh Methodist Church.

The church's minister said they wished Streetreads "success in their future endeavours".

"We regret that we could not renew the lease for Streetreads due to ongoing concerns around the suitability of the location for their work, which were not resolved despite years of discussions," Mr Patron Bell added.

"This included the safety of our tenants, visitors and staff which is and always will be our priority."

Fiona Williamson, head of service for Simon Community Scotland in Edinburgh, said up to 100 people sleep rough on the city's streets each night.

She added: "The library is so important because we asked groups of homeless people in areas in the city why they were congregating and they said for community and connection and we thought yes that's what we are all looking for in our lives.

"And we thought it really is that simple and so it became much more than a library."

Ricky Kerr, service lead for Streetreads, said it would cost more than double to rent new premises, which they planned to reach through fundraising.

He said some people visited the library six days a week and they have been left at a loss as to how to spend their days.

"The library was a beautiful, welcoming and calm place for people who were experiencing or were at risk of homelessness to come and access not only a wide variety of support but also to feel accepted," he added.

Michelle said the library offered refuge.

"When I was reading my book during the day some people seemed to think just because you're sitting on the street they were entitled to give you abuse and that's hard because you are already at your lowest.

"The library gave us a safe space where we could get away from that."