A CAMPAIGNING councillor says overcrowding and a shortage of quality social housing is creating a massive emergency in Inverclyde.

Since being elected Colin Jackson has intervened for hundreds of people in his ward who are living in desperate situations, and in many situations their accomodation cisrcumstances has had a devastating impact on their health.

Councillor Jackson has spoken out after the Scottish Government called a national housing emergency.

But the man who represents the poorest ward in the country, with some of the worst housing, says their decision to slash nearly £200 million from the affordable housing budget has had a disastrous impact.

Councillor Jackson says in the private sector he warned ordinary families are being priced out.

He said: "I would say that in many cases the Inverclyde situation is even worse than the big cities.

"Most of my casework is housing, people who are living in overcrowded conditions, but there is nowhere for them to go because there are no bigger houses for them to move into.

"At the same time we are not building new houses and there are now houses being converted to short term lets.

"It is heartbreaking in most cases.

"Within the Inverclyde social rental sector, there is a serious shortage of decent family-sized accommodation.

"The number of local families living in overcrowded social housing is at a crisis point.

"With no new social housing being built and the stock that is available in such poor condition, many have turned to the private rental sector, only to find that the same problem exists."

Councillor Jackson added: "For those trying to get on the property ladder, things are equally bad.

"With so few affordable homes available or being built, when a house does come on the market, it is not uncommon for it to sell for at least 20 per cent above the asking price. Many ordinary families are being priced out of the market."

In its most recent budget, the Scottish Government cut £196 million to build affordable housing.

Councillor Jackson said: "The cuts to the budget means even fewer homes will be built, making an already desperate housing crisis even worse.

"We are now in the position where decent housing which meets the needs of the average family is only be affordable to the well off and the middle classes.

"The Scottish Government's decision to slash nearly £200m from the affordable housing budget is having real consequences for tackling poverty and homelessness in Inverclyde and across Scotland.

"This cut is devastating news for the people waiting on a social home and the children growing up in temporary accommodation.

"Safe, warm, affordable housing is a basic human right and the Scottish Government is placing this further out of the reach of those most in need."

Last year Councillor Jackson supported a motion by Councillor Tommy McVey to put the spotlight on social housing.

The Scottish Government has blamed cuts from Westminster for the decision to make cuts from the affordable housing budget.

On calling the housing emergency earlier this year, Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said that a 'joint approach' between Holyrood, Westminster and local authorities would be needed to combat housing problems.

She said she would use all the powers at her disposal to try and address the housing situation, which she called 'one of the defining issues of a generation'.