PLANS to shut down the Inverclyde Centre homeless facility are moving ahead with the doors set to close early next year.
From January 2026, people who are assessed as unintentionally homeless will be provided with temporary accommodation in the community.
Following discussions with staff and trade union representatives, it is proposed that Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) will take over the out-of-hours homelessness service once the centre in Dalrymple Street closes.
Inverclyde Integrated Joint Board (IJB) — the organisation responsible for managing Inverclyde Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) — will consider the plan at a meeting on 8 September.
Glasgow City HSCP currently delivers Inverclyde’s out-of-hours social work service.
The new approach also includes the establishment of a permanent housing support team in Inverclyde.
The move towards a community-based approach comes after significant research, planning and consultation, and will have a primary focus on early intervention and prevention to combat the national trend of increasing homelessness applications.
The Inverclyde Centre was opened in 1944 and has space for up to 24 people. The model of emergency accommodation in a communal setting is identified as being out of step with national policy, local strategic ambitions and best practice in homelessness services.
Challenges such as anti-social behaviour, risks to vulnerable groups and staff and trauma exposure have driven the change, alongside staff and service user feedback.
By closing the centre, the number of temporary furnished flats in Inverclyde will increase and Inverclyde HSCP is working with registered social landlords on this.
Stakeholders and partners including registered social landlords, Police Scotland, third-sector organisations, strategic housing services, and a range of HSCP services have been included in the decommissioning process.
Members of Inverclyde IJB agreed in November 2024 to move to a community-based temporary accommodation model and close the centre.
The future of the building, which is owned by Inverclyde Council, is under discussion.
