SENIOR council officers believe they can prevent an “emergency situation” as homeless applications rise amid “unprecedented” challenges in Renfrewshire.

Factors such as the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and pressures caused by the cost-of-living crisis are thought to be behind an increase in recent years.

That’s according to a report to a communities and housing policy board, which showed 935 homeless applications were recorded in 2022/23, compared against 909 in 2021/22 and 834 in 2020/21.

The figure stood at 752 for 2023/24 as of December 31, but the number could still surpass previous totals when the financial year is out.

Tom Irvine, homeless and housing support services manager, acknowledged the challenge facing the local authority but said there is a “degree of confidence” that it can avoid a full-blown crisis.

He responded to Councillor Colin McCulloch, Labour group spokesperson for communities and housing, who asked at what point could the “worrying” situation become a “systemic failure” for the council in relation to its statutory duties.

Mr Irvine pointed to measures being taken by the service, including boosting the stock of temporary accommodation, allocating council lets to those who are homeless, working with registered social landlords and deploying extra staff.

He said: “When you pull that all together, along with the use of bed and breakfast, which we’ve had to point out in the report, there is a degree of confidence that we can … stay ahead of the curve.

“It’s a challenge, it’s really difficult, it is unprecedented, but with the steps we’ve taken so far with our partners and in some of the plans that are covered in the report that I’ve summarised there, there’s a degree of confidence that we are not at that emergency situation and indeed a degree of confidence that we may be able to avert such a thing happening.”

Asylum decisions have recently been accelerated by the UK Government as it tries to clear a backlog, meaning there are people, who were staying in hotel accommodation, presenting as homeless after receiving a positive decision.

Additionally, elected members have said they are being contacted by residents who are losing their homes because private landlords are deciding to sell up.

Elsewhere, Glasgow City Council declared a housing emergency at the end of November, following the City of Edinburgh Council, which declared one earlier that month, and Argyll and Bute Council, which did so in June.

Louise Feely, head of housing services, said the rise in homelessness in Renfrewshire was in line with trends across Scotland.

She added: “The latest report provides a summary of the increasing pressures in meeting the demand for temporary accommodation and social rented housing across Renfrewshire from those that are presenting as homeless.

“I think members will agree that generally, we have a very positive record in Renfrewshire with supporting those that are homeless.

“We’ve put in place a number of innovative approaches and we’ve been heavily involved in successful resettlement of people arriving in Renfrewshire as part of the humanitarian programmes.

“What we’re seeing within the body of the report is there doesn’t appear to be a sole reason for the increase in homelessness – rather it’s an accumulation of a number of different factors that are impacting at the same time that’s compounding the problem.”