EAST Lothian Council has renewed its commitment to tackling homelessness ahead of Homlessness Sunday.

The council is teaming up with Alastair Cameron, chief executive of Scottish Churches Housing Action.

During autumn 2016, SCHA was commissioned by the council’s community housing service to explore awareness, knowledge and contributions of churches to vulnerable people and those experiencing homelessness in East Lothian.

Homelessness Sunday, which takes place annually, falls this year this Sunday and will begin the council’s call to action not only to religious organisations but the wider local community, to help the county’s most vulnerable people.

The SCHA report is expected in early March and will recommend a number of actions, which range from prevention to awareness raising and helping by offering practical assistance such as befriending, decorating and potentially providing starter packs for homeless people moving into a new home.

East Lothian Council will be inviting experts, organisations and churches to contribute to a roundtable event to be held after the report is published.

The event will seek to define the challenges faced in East Lothian with regards to homelessness, isolation and vulnerable people before developing an action plan to co-ordinate community initiatives in line with statutory responsibilities.

Alastair Cameron from SCHA said: “We’ve been delighted to find how churches in East Lothian are already supporting people who are either experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

"But there are new challenges due to welfare reform, including Universal Credit and the benefit cap, which place more people in difficult circumstances.

"We’re keen to help churches continue to take new initiatives, strengthening links and supporting projects that operate within their communities.”

Council leader Willie Innes added: “We would like to take this opportunity to thank members of the public and religious organisations for their commitment to helping support those most vulnerable in our community. We hope that with our renewed commitment to joint working with communities and religious organisations, we can continue to support individuals in East Lothian in the best way possible.

“It’s easy to forget that preventing homelessness is possible and that homelessness doesn’t just mean rough sleeping and individuals you see on the street.

"In line with national figures, the majority of homelessness cases assessed by the council are due to relationship breakdown.

"By asking churches and local communities to help address challenges around homelessness, we hope that we can look to prevent homelessness, reduce isolation and ensure that the most vulnerable in our community maintain social networks.”