A new £1.5 million fund from the Scottish government is set to protect low-income families against homelessness.

Launched on Scottish Housing Day, the Homelessness Prevention Fund will support housing associations and social landlords to work with their tenants to prevent crisis, and stop families from becoming homeless.

Funding through the programme will support families through accessible financial advice to reduce household costs, employment support, and in emergency situations, can also be paid directly to families.

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Introducing the new fund, Housing Minister Kevin Stewart said: "We want to eradicate homelessness for good and we recognise the important role of social landlords in helping us achieve this, especially through the preventative measures this fund can help with.

"Housing associations offer so much more than places for people to live – they support tenants through a range of services from financial and employment advice to linking up with health and social care.

"This fund is an important step forward in joining up services and making sure that everyone in Scotland has a safe, warm place to call home."

(CM/JG)