INVERCLYDE Health and Social Care Partnership is currently undertaking a review of its homelessness services in recognition of the challenges they face.

Chief officer Kate Rocks and her team are on the frontline of the fight to help those who find themselves homelessness.

The hostel Inverclyde Centre has been condemned as unfit for purpose with alternatives being looked including a 'housing first' approach.

They highlighted the increase in demand, the removal of the embargo on private sector evictions, the deepening cost of living crisis and high mortgage interest rates for owner occupiers as all contributing to the rise in homelessness.

READ MORE: Huge rise in homelessness in Inverclyde branded 'scandalous'

An Inverclyde HSCP spokesperson said: "In recognition of all of these challenges, the service is currently undertaking a review of its service to ensure we continue to meet emerging demands and prioritise our early intervention and prevention work that evidences improved outcomes for people in Inverclyde.

"Homeless applications in Inverclyde increased by 29 per cent in 2023/24 with 5 per cent of those applications being successfully supported to prevent homelessness.

"However Inverclyde is not exempt from the reality of a national housing emergency and the external pressures which increase demand, such as removal of the embargo on private sector evictions, the deepening cost of living crisis and high mortgage interest rates for owner occupiers."

With regards to children included in applications, Inverclyde HSCP say that they have one of the best records for keeping youngsters out of temporary accommodation.

The HSCP spokesperson said: "Children associated with homelessness does not directly reflect the number of children in temporary accommodation, it is a count of children included in an application and in 2023/24 there has been a 16 per cent reduction in the previous year’s data. 

"Our homelessness teams recognise the impact of homelessness on children and prioritises prevention and early intervention in all such cases."

Responding to the total of 232 live homelessness case recorded compared with 115 the previous year, an HSCP spokesperson said: "This increase does not directly relate to the number of homeless presentations but includes the number of people we continue to work with in preventing homelessness and those who have secured a permanent tenancy but are awaiting a move in date.

And in relation to the 72 households in temporary accommodation the HSCP says that it does not reflect the full year.

This is accurate as at March 31, 2023, but does not reflect the full year data.

The spokesperson added: "Inverclyde continues to perform well against the statutory 28-day assessment timeframe with the average assessment taking nine days, well below the national average of 19 days and people in Inverclyde spend less time in temporary accommodation than many other areas.

"Whilst we continue to focus on prevention, the socio-economic challenges we face means that homelessness cannot always be avoided and will inevitably lead to higher demand for our services. 

"In these instances, we ensure solutions are found quickly and effectively whilst respecting the individual’s right to choice and control over their accommodation arrangements.

"Our Housing Options and Homeless Advice Services continues to work collaboratively with our local Registered Social Landlords to achieve the objectives laid out in our Rapid Rehousing Transitions Plan."