EMPTY homes in Glasgow are to be brought into use to provide Ukrainian refugees with more places to stay as part of a plan to urgently boost accommodation.

It comes after an announcement that a cruise ship on the Clyde, which has accommodated families from the war torn country, will no longer be available. 

About 1200 people have been living on MS Ambition but they are now to be re-homed as the ship contract is to end on March 31.

Another 600 people have been staying in Glasgow hotels. 

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A Glasgow City council paper on its strategic housing investment plan said the "Scottish Government is working with Glasgow City Council and registered social landlords to increase the number of homes available to support the longer-term resettlement of Ukrainian Displaced Persons".

The Scottish Government has made a £50 million fund available to pay for work to make unused housing association and council properties available for housing again.

The council paper said: “Through improving and bringing void homes back into use, these homes are intended to temporarily rehouse Ukrainian Displaced Persons for a period of up to three years.

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"Similarly to other resettlement programmes, Glasgow City Council, Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership will continue to work with registered social landlords and other partners towards supporting refugees to meet their housing needs.” 

The Scottish Government said it would prioritise applications which would “deliver completed homes by March, 31” to “urgently boost the supply of available accommodation.”

Registered social landlords and local authorities can apply for the funding.