The Homelessness in Scotland: 2025-26 report details that in the 12 months from April 2025 to March 2026, the number of applications in Inverclyde fell by three per cent to 400.

The figures also show that Inverclyde HSCP currently takes an average of 10 days to secure temporary accommodation, compared to the Scottish average of 17 days.

The average timescale for someone presenting as homeless through to closure in in Inverclyde is 153 days, against a national average of 277 days.

The report shows that at March 31, 2026, there were 10 households with children in temporary accommodation in Inverclyde. This is an increase of five from the snapshot taken in March 31, 2025.

Of the 400 applicants, 15 were from refugees or those granted leave to remain.

The report also states 30 people said they’d experienced a rough sleeping situation at some point in the three months before presenting as homeless.

Inverclyde’s Housing Options, Homelessness and Community Integration service has undergone significant changes in the last 12 months with the closure of the Inverclyde Centre completed in March this year.

David Gould is the chair of Inverclyde Integration Joint Board, the organisation which manages the Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) on behalf of Inverclyde Council and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

He said: “This data is important as it gives us a chance to understand at a national level how we are performing, focus on where we can improve, and identify which local authorities we can learn from.

“Since the publication of the 2024/25 data in September last year, the service has undergone significant changes, particularly since the start of this year with the closure of the Inverclyde Centre.

“We don’t want to see any children affected by homelessness. That is why, when households with children are at risk of becoming homeless, we work, along with our partner agencies, to prevent this from happening. 

“Where it is unavoidable, we work quickly with housing providers and other agencies to identify suitable permanent accommodation as quickly as possible and provide support throughout this process.

“The reasons behind people presenting as homeless are complex and varied. It could be a family breakdown, loss of employment or addiction or mental health issues.

“We are at the start of our three-year programme to deliver change.

“We are already seeing positive results and are continuing that work to prevent homelessness in Inverclyde.”