Homelessness services in Renfrewshire are continuing to perform strongly against national benchmarks, despite ongoing pressures across the housing system.
New figures presented to Renfrewshire Council’s Housing and Communities Policy Board show that local homelessness services continue to perform well against key benchmarks, including faster assessments, shorter stays in temporary accommodation and high satisfaction levels among service users.
The latest homelessness benchmarking report highlights that Renfrewshire assesses homelessness applications more quickly than the Scottish average, with decisions typically made in around 17 days, compared to a national average of approximately 19 days.
The report also shows that households in Renfrewshire spend significantly less time in temporary accommodation than in many other council areas. On average, local households spend around 114 days in temporary accommodation. This is around half the national average of 226 days, supporting faster moves into settled housing wherever possible.
In addition, people using temporary accommodation in Renfrewshire report relatively high levels of satisfaction compared to peer authorities, reflecting the quality of accommodation provided and the support offered by council housing teams and partner organisations.
The figures were discussed at the Housing and Communities Policy Board meeting on 13th January 2026, as councillors considered how to maintain service standards while responding to ongoing housing pressures and demand.
Cllr Robert Innes, Deputy Convenor of Renfrewshire’s Communities and Housing Policy Board, said: “The pressures facing homelessness services are real and widely felt, and no one would suggest this is an easy environment to be working in.
“Against that backdrop, it’s important to recognise areas where our local services are responding well, particularly when it comes to acting quickly, reducing the time people spend in temporary accommodation, and ensuring residents feel supported during a very difficult period in their lives.
“These figures don’t mean the job is done, but they do show the value of focused work by council staff and partners, and why continued investment in housing supply and prevention remains so important in Renfrewshire.
“This performance comes at a time of continued pressure on homelessness services across Scotland, with high demand, rising costs and ongoing housing supply challenges affecting councils nationwide.”