A COMMITTEE of MSPs has backed a call asking the Scottish Government to front load £40million for tackling homelessness.

Housing campaigner, Sean Clerkin submitted the petition to the Scottish Parliament asking for the cash to be invested in Housing First.

The petition asks for £40m of the £50m from the Ending Homelessness Together fund to be used in the next year for new homes and refurbish existing properties in tandem with an expanded Housing First policy.

Glasgow City Council has recently agreed a deal with Social Bite and Wheatley Housing Group to provide 50 tenancies this year for Housing First.

The committee agreed to write to the Scottish Government to ask if it could and if so If it would frontload the cash for tackling homelessness.

SNP, Labour and Conservative MSPs agreed the petition had merit was deserved to be taken further.

Johann Lamont committee convener and Glasgow Labour MSP said: “Some of the work of the action group was about immediacy over the winter. Perhaps this had to be done in the short term while developing a better policy.”

She said the committee recognized the importance of the petition and agreed to ask the government how it might direct resources to this approach.

She added: “There seems to be a view it would help with the challenges people are facing.”

Rhona Mackay SNP MSP said: “It’s a very interesting petition. The money is there the policy is there. It’s a suggestion that should be put.”

Brian Whittle, Conservative MSP, said “it makes perfect sense” to front load the money.”