Thousands of families are struggling to find affordable homes across the area – and the council doesn’t have the cash to meet demand.

Around 75 per cent of East Renferewshire’s social housing is split between Barrhead and Neilston, and according to figures provided by East Renfrewshire Council’s (ERC) housing convenor, Councillor Danny Devlin, almost 3,000 people are on the local authority’s waiting list.

One Neilston woman, who asked not to be named, has been forced to live separately from her family.

She told the Barrhead News: “It’s been a nightmare, just horrible trying to get a house.” “It hasn’t been good at all, and I’ve had a very hard time because of it. I’m not sure where I go from here.” Cllr Devlin revealed dozens of families are being put up in bed and breakfasts both in and outside of East Renfrewshire – with a further 375 people completely homeless.

Barrhead councillor Devlin revealed the shocking statistics this week alongside East Renfrewshire MP Jim Murphy – and placed the blame firmly at the feet of the Scottish Government.

Mr Murphy added: “There are new problems developing with housing in East Renfrewshire particularly in Barrhead because of housing funding cuts. This is going to get worse unless the Scottish government acts.

“More investment is needed by the Scottish Government to help local authorities manage the rapidly accelerating housing deficit.” The news comes as council chiefs begin an extensive regeneration programme in Auchenback which could see dozens of social housing properties renovated for desperate families – but Cllr Devlin says it’s not enough.

He told the Barrhead News: “The fact is funds to build more housing just aren’t available, and we are looking at a massive waiting list as a result.

“Dozens of families are being put up in B&Bs and temporary accomodation across the authority and even outside it because the space for them is simply not there.

“This is happening while thousands make up the waiting list to get homes suitable to their needs, or are looking to come into East Renfrewshire.” Both Cllr Devlin and Mr Murphy were in the town’s Newton Avenue to see some of the work being done to bring social housing back up to scratch.

This includes three blocks of flats built in the 1960s that will be returned to the social housing stock, and a former family home in nearby Divernia Way gutted by fire several years ago.

The council is now moving towards the compulsory purchase of the property to help add it to its stocks.

Cllr Devlin continued: “It isn’t a good situation and we aren’t getting the funding we need from the Scottish Government to build more social housing.” A spokeswoman from East Renfrewshire Council said: “We work in partnership with Barrhead Housing Association and Arklet Housing Association to operate a common housing register known as the East Renfrewshire Housing Register.

“Together the organisations cover approximately 94 per cent of all social housing in the area and applicants can access the waiting list by completing one form.

“As of March 31 2014 there were 2,705 households on the waiting list.

“In addition, from April 1 2013 to March 31 2014, East Renfrewshire Council received 375 homeless applications, of which the council had a duty to find permanent accommodation for 301 households.

“The council has a range of temporary accommodation which is used for homeless households but at times may have to use bed and breakfast facilities, especially in emergency situations.”