EFFORTS are under way to ease the misery of those who face having to sleep rough on the streets of towns and villages across Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire.

An action group has been formed to come up with urgent recommendations to minimise rough sleeping this winter.

Members will examine how the Scottish Government’s commitment to end rough sleeping can be achieved and how best to spend a new £50million fund which has been set aside to tackle the problem in cities, towns and villages across the country.

Housing Minister Kevin Stewart said: “The Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Action Group will be recommending immediate steps we can take to minimise rough sleeping, both this winter and for good, as well as ways to transform temporary accommodation.

“The members bring a wide range of expertise, experience and enthusiasm and I know they will provide invaluable advice.

“The group will be engaging with all partners who deal with homelessness, including in local authorities and the third sector, so we can harness the wealth of knowledge available.

“We are committed to ending rough sleeping, preventing homelessness and transforming outcomes for those who experience it. The action group and the new £50million fund are important steps in achieving this.”

Jon Sparkes, chief executive of the Crisis charity and chairman of the new action group, added: “I am delighted to be working with such a dedicated and knowledgeable group of people who have the common goal of ending homelessness.

“Today, our focus is on action that can be taken this winter to support as many rough sleepers as possible, so that fewer people have to face the coldest months of the year without a roof over their heads.

“The Scottish Government has set us an ambitious goal but I am confident that with the invaluable experience of this group, combined with the views of people who have experience of homelessness, we can and will make all forms of homelessness a thing of the past.”