West Dunbartonshire Council has penned a letter to the Scottish Government in a pleading bid to be granted additional funding to help cope with the 'chronic shortage' of housing.
17 months since the council declared a housing emergency, more than 5,500 people are currently on the waiting list for social housing in the local authority.
With only 10,400 homes in the council stock the authority says 'demand far outstrips supply' in a letter to the Scottish Government's Housing Minister bidding for extra funds to tackle the scale of the emergency.
Councillor Gurpreet Johal, the authorities housing convener said in his letter that the situation is "critical" and their ability to continue to support residents with their services is becoming "severely limited".
In addition, Johal says the homelessness situation remains "alarmingly high" with West Dunbartonshire having the highest homelessness rate per population in Scotland.
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This has resulted in an immense strain on the council's temporary accommodation services leading to increased costs and prolonged periods of instability for vulnerable adults and families.
In the letter, Cllr Johal requested additional targeted funding to enhance homelessness prevention as well as supporting and expanded temporary accommodation services as well as accelerating the construction and acquisition of new affordable homes.
Scottish Housing Minister Mairi McAllan has since replied to the council's letter asking for a meeting to discuss further funding.
In her response McAllan said the government has already allocated a resource planning assumption of £11million for 2025/26.
Of this, the minister says £0.296 million has been designated to acquire properties to bring into use for affordable housing and help reduce homelessness and the additional £40 million for acquisitions will increase this further.
In total, McAllan argued the government has made available £53.590 million over this Parliamentary term to support the delivery of affordable homes in West Dunbartonshire.
She said: "Our action plan is a rounded and ambitious package to drive forward our mission to eradicate child poverty.
"The plan encompasses a clear commitment to our children and to social justice - pledging to work to best effect with commercial, public and third sector partners to deal with causes of housing uncertainty."
Mairi McAllan says she would be delighted to meet Mr Johal.
