LSA to open emergency housing helpdesk in Dumbarton

Legal Services Agency is to begin an emergency helpdesk service to provide advice and representation to unrepresented people facing eviction in Dumbarton Sheriff Court. 

The Glasgow based law centre has received funding from the Scottish Government Homelessness Sector Prevention Fund, to support the move, along with its existing weekly emergency helpdesk at the heritable court in Glasgow Sheriff Court. Its new helpdesk will start in Dumbarton Sheriff Court on 5 July 2023, and will operate every second Wednesday from 9.30am.  

In the meantime, LSA has been accepting referrals for people in the West Dunbartonshire area who are requiring immediate legal advice and representation.

The law centre said that door of court advice can make a difference between eviction into homelessness and being able to maintain tenancies. Even at that point it is often possible to identify what the issue is that has caused the eviction proceedings to start, and assist to defend the action. Its solicitors can refer people to specialist money advisers and welfare rights assistance, if appropriate, or in more complex cases, for example involving antisocial behaviour or criminal convictions, it can seek further time in order to provide full advice to the client. 

LSA commented: “We are especially proud to have introduced this project in West Dunbartonshire for the first time last year. This will help to provide much needed legal assistance to people and ensure that they have access to fair representation. The harsh realities of the increased cost of living are forcing people to make impossible decisions for them and their families. LSA remains determined to help our clients out of tough situations and reduce the number of repossessions and homeless applications.”