New group tasked with ending homelessness

NEW Government measures aimed at tackling homelessness have been welcomed by leading charity, Peter McVerry Trust, which was set up by the Ballymun based priest back in the 1970s.

The new measures are based on recommendations from the Homelessness Oversight Group, which consulted with a number of homeless services and presented a report to Minister for Housing and Planning, Jan O’Sullivan last December.

As part of the measures, a new Homelessness Policy Implementation Team will be established and charged with achieving a Government objective of ending long-term homelessness by 2016.

The goal has been recently slammed by critics, including Sinn Fein housing spokesperson, Dessie Ellis, who told Northside People that Government inaction to date made it an unachievable aim.

“The Government said they’d end homelessness by 2016 but there’s no way we’re going to get anywhere near that with the amount of people reporting homeless at the moment,

? he said.

However, despite reports of increased homelessness throughout the city, Minister O’Sullivan insists the goal is still within reach.

“I believe that long-term homelessness can be eliminated by 2016,

? she said.

“To achieve that goal it is vital to source a steady supply of suitable permanent accommodation. That is an essential part of a housing-led approach to homelessness.

“We will now put in place a practical plan to access this accommodation and support people in new tenancies. This will result in the closure of expensive private emergency accommodation beds that are extensively used at present.

?

The new Homelessness Policy Implementation Team will consist of officials from the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government, the Department of Social Protection, the HSE’s Director of Primary Care, the Dublin City Manager and another local authority manager.

One of the team’s first tasks will be to prepare a plan to make the transition from shelter-led to a sustainable housing-led approach. The plan will set practical targets for the supply of suitable properties for people who are homeless.

Pat Doyle CEO of Peter McVerry Trust welcomed the establishment of the new policy implementation team but warned it faced a difficult task.

“The decision to establish the new group reflects a realisation by Government that if they are to successfully tackle homelessness then a multi-agency approach is needed involving not only the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government but also the Departments of Social Protection and Health, the HSE and local authorities,

? he said.

“However, the first and largest task facing the new team is to address the lack of housing which is available to those seeking to exit homeless services.

“We need to significantly increase the availability of social and affordable housing otherwise we risk people becoming trapped in homeless services. If they can increase housing options we can free up beds in homeless services to ensure those presenting as homeless can access high quality services.

?