PEOPLE who are threatened with homelessness will be put first under a new council housing policy.

The Renfrewshire Common Housing Allocation Policy, which gives priority to those “in the greatest need of housing,” was given the green light at a meeting of the council’s communities, housing and planning policy board.

Housing officer Lesley Muirhead said the policy’s intention is to avoid people becoming homeless and “maximise their options.”

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She added: “It’s an attempt to make a system for applicants with all different types of need.”

The system will see applicants assessed on their circumstances and placed into one of five groups, including homelessness, mobility, general applicants, transfer applicant (with housing need) and transfer applicant (no housing need).

People will be placed into the homelessness category if they are found to be “unintentionally homeless.”

Applicants will come under the mobility category if they need a home which is suitable for someone needing an adapted or accessible property.

Meanwhile, general applicants are those who have a housing need but are not a tenant of the landlord to which they have applied.

However, transfer applicants are those either with a need or no need who are a tenant of the landlord to which they have applied.

Applicants are categorised according to a level of priority, with the letter A representing critical, B urgent, C moderate and D no housing priority need.

The categories take into account people experiencing domestic abuse, harassment or overcrowding in their current accommodation, as well as those who have significant health and social care needs.

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More than 240 responses were received by Renfrewshire Council during the policy’s consultation period, which saw 83 per cent of people agree with the principle of a common housing allocation policy and 76 per cent back the suggested groups.

Around 74 per cent of people agreed with the need to prioritise different types of housing need.

The policy will be adopted by the local authority and Bridgewater, Linstone, Paisley and Williamsburgh housing associations.