Renfrewshire records rise in homelessness

Figures show 13% surge in applications from last year

- JACK THOMSON LOCAL DEMOCRACY REPORTER

Homeless More peopleare living in temporary accommodation

More than 500 homeless applications have been recorded in Renfrewshire in the last six months-a 13 per cent surge on the same period last year.

A "steady" rise has been witnessed by the council since 2020/21, with the annual number exceeding 1,000 in both 2023/24 and 2024/25.

Recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic, pressures from the cost-of-living crisis and the impact of migration and asylum humanitarian programmes continue to be cited as reasons behind the increase in recent years.

That's according to a report to tomorrow's communities and housing policy board which confirmed 579 homeless applications were submitted from April until the end of September.