Accommodation for vulnerable homeless young women is on the verge of closure due to severe financial pressures.
The Scottish Christian Alliance (SCA), which runs Gilven House in Glenrothes, claimed it had been seriously under-funded and had been forced to use cash reserves to plug £120,000 of deficits in the last three years.
The Glasgow-based charity said it was “broken-hearted” to have to consider closing the service but insisted it was confident all who use it could be found alternative accommodation.
Gilven House, in Iona Park, has space for 10 homeless women aged between 16 and 25 who are experiencing hardships, including health problems.
As well as offering accommodation, staff teach vital life skills to ensure the women can cope on their own once they secure their own tenancies.
Local MP Peter Grant said he was very concerned about the service’s possible closure but insisted the SCA had a “strong moral responsibility” to do everything possible to allow the service to transfer to a new provider with a minimum of disruption.
The building was gifted to the charity free of charge and the SNP MP has urged bosses to transfer it at no cost to any future provider.
“While there are other places in Fife offering high quality support there is nowhere else quite like Gilven House and for that reason I hope SCA will do everything possible to help Fife Council and its partner organisations keep Gilven open,” he said.
SCA chairman Martin Carr said the project operates exclusively for the use of those referred by Fife Council.
“Unfortunately reserves have run out, requests for more funding turned down and the whole charity is now deemed at risk,” he said.
“To consider closing the service has caused the trustees and myself sleepless nights and I think the word most would use about the possibility would be broken-hearted.”
Mr Carr said the SCA had invited other organisations to approach them if they wished to take over the work at Gilven.
“One has done so cautiously but others know our sustainability issue due to size and funding and know they couldn’t make it work either,” he said.
“Of course our top priority is ensuring the ongoing well-being of those who live there then those who work there.
“It is a worrying time for all.”
Fife Council’s local housing strategy service manager Greig Henderson said: “Fife Council funds certain services at Gilven House and we are working with other partners to look for a solution as Scottish Christian Alliance have indicated that they would like the service to transfer to another provider.”
