PEOPLE with lived experience of homelessness are being given the chance to help shape the support they receive through an innovative new project.

Inverclyde Council’s health and social care partnership (HSCP) is one of the first in Scotland to work with the charity Homeless Network Scotland on this type of project.

Those who have agreed to take part will work alongside HSCP staff to drive change and help develop the service.

Councillor Robert Moran, chair of Inverclyde’s Integrated Joint Board (IJB), the organisation that oversees local health and social care functions, said the project showed staff were happy to listen and learn.

He said: “Homelessness is a devastating outcome and one which we are determined to avoid.

“This is an innovative project which shows that staff are open to learning and working with people who use the homelessness service to hear their experiences.

“It’s just getting started so we don’t know yet what shape it will take.

“I am looking forward to seeing how the project develops over the coming months.”

Jeremy Wylie, an associate at Homeless Network Scotland, who is part of the project’s planning and facilitation team, said: “Through my own experience of becoming homeless, I understand the barriers people can face when accessing services.

“Coproduction is about learning from each other and acting on it. Providing a structure to coproduce the design and delivery of services will create the right conditions for learning and improvement.”

National charity, Homeless Network Scotland, is helping to set up the group and support it with training for an initial nine months before it will continue to run autonomously.

It is expected the group will meet monthly.

David Ramsay, impact lead at Homeless Network Scotland, said: “Inverclyde Health and Social Care Partnership recognises that people have the right to contribute to and influence the decisions that affect their lives.

"Involving people in what matters to them and the services they use is likely to result in better decisions and outcomes.”

Councils in Scotland have a legal duty to help people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.

Anyone who has nowhere to live or are afraid of losing their home is encouraged to contact the Housing Options and Homelessness Advice Service.

Staff will offer advice and explore permanent or temporary housing options if required.

Those who wish to find out more and access support should visit www.inverclyde.gov.uk/housing-options or phone 01475 715 880.