HOMELESS AT CHRISTMAS

Council Homeless service working around the clock

Many homeless people are forced to sleep on the streets or in hostels. Pictures by Bill Heaney

Don’t end up on the streets this Christmas. West Dunbartonshire Council‘s Homelessness service will be working around the clock to ensure nobody is left out in the cold.

As well as their usual office hours, the teams will provide 24-hour assistance, advice and support to anybody who finds themselves homeless over the festive period.

Emergency temporary accommodation will also be made available by the Council.

Councillor Diane Docherty, pictured left, Convener of Housing and Communities, said: “We are committed to ensuring our residents have somewhere safe and warm to sleep. Nobody in West Dunbartonshire should be sleeping rough this Christmas. Our services will be running 24 hours a day, so if you need assistance please get in touch with us.”

Councillor Caroline McAllister, Vice Convener of Housing and Communities, added: “If you have an emergency need for accommodation, I would urge you to contact our offices, even during the public holidays. I’m delighted these important services will continue to operate to ensure nobody is cold and alone on the streets.”

Out with the four public holidays over the festive period (December 25 & 26 and January 1 & 2), our local offices at Church Street Dumbarton, Alexandria One Stop Shop and Clydebank Town Centre Office will operate between the hours of 9.30am and 4pm.

During office hours you can contact the Council on 01389 738625 (Clydebank), 01389 77 64 00 (Vale of Leven) or 01389 776409 (Dumbarton).

If you are affected by homelessness when Council Offices are closed you can request assistance by calling our out of hours emergency service on 0800 197 1004.

Meanwhile, as people try to stay warm in plummeting temperatures, a Scottish Government report shows that young people are more likely to be at risk of fuel poverty. The figures show that over a third of under 35s – around 140,000 households – are living in fuel poverty.

Young people are more likely to be in the private rented sector, which sees soaring levels of fuel poverty.  Scottish Labour is campaigning against fuel poverty over the festive break, highlighting plans for a Mary Barbour law to improve conditions in the private rented sector, building more homes for social rent and bringing energy into public ownership to ensure fairer prices.

Dumbarton and Lomond MSP Jackie Baillie, above right,  said: ““Fuel poverty is not just an issue that affects pensioners, young people – particularly those living in the private rented sector – are increasingly at risk. In 2002, the last Labour-led Scottish Government set a target to eradicate fuel poverty by 2016, but years of inaction from the SNP mean that the target was missed. Fuel poverty is a product of low income, high fuel costs and homes with poor efficiency and Labour is campaigning to end it.

“The next Labour governments at Holyrood and Westminster will take action to end the scandal.”