The prospect of Renfrewshire's vulnerable leaving their own home in search of heat amid the cost-of-living crisis has been branded "terrible".
Provost Lorraine Cameron said the situation is "absolutely disgusting" as soaring energy costs inflict severe financial pressures on families in the local authority area.
Just weeks ago, the council approved around half-a-million pounds worth of relief measures, which included the introduction of so-called warm spaces, winter clothing payments for children and an advice pilot in high schools.
But the provost has been left sickened by a crisis that could yet see people freeze in their own homes because they can't afford to turn their heating on.
"I quite frankly find it horrific that in 2022 we're having this conversation in this chamber," she said during a debate on energy prices at full council.
"It's absolutely disgusting.
"We will all need to pull together, everyone of us, to assist anyone who finds themselves in that terrible situation of having to go somewhere else for some heat. It is terrible."
It was agreed at September's leadership board that £50,000 would be directed specifically to support the provision of warm spaces across Renfrewshire's communities.
A report said said these should focus on "promoting wellbeing, reducing isolation and making sure people have access to advice and support."
A campaign dubbed 'Winter Connections' is being developed to promote the local response during the coming months.
The UK Government's energy price guarantee, which reduces the unit cost of electricity and gas so that a typical household in Scotland will pay on average around £2,500 a year on their bill, kicked in at the beginning of this month.
However, that does not mean that no households will pay more than that — an alarm that was sounded by SNP councillor Jim Paterson.
He warned against that "false impression", adding: "People could pay well more than that and will do, myself included probably, given the kind of household I'm in, will pay more than £2,500 a year just because of the circumstances of my family."
Councillor Paterson said the crisis represented another example of local authorities being on the front line, following their efforts to help people during the Covid pandemic.
He said: "I think we've shown ourselves more than capable and flexible during Covid as the first responders...setting up the community hubs and all the kind of networks that were involved with that. I'm sure that this will be just as successful.
"If we are going to be the first line of response again in this crisis, it's a very different crisis to Covid, but we need to be appropriately funded to do so and any money that this council spends on mitigating the cost-of-living crisis, we do have to be reimbursed.
"Now whether that comes from the Scottish Government or the UK Government — I don't really care where it comes from, I'll be perfectly honest — as long as it comes to us, because it'll be us the communities turn to in these times and again we can't be left wanting.
"We spoke about reserves and they are in a healthy position but I saw how quickly they were depleted during Covid as we had to spend the money up front and be reimbursed later.
"We need to keep that in mind as well, those reserves can go quickly when we move from crisis to crisis."
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