Sir, – Fr Peter McVerry brought the problems now faced by people who are homeless in Dublin to broad public attention (September 6th).
Focus Ireland shares these deep concerns about the number of people who are homeless who appear to be unable to obtain emergency beds for the night and are only being provided with sleeping bags. Like others, we are working actively with the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive (formerly the Homeless Agency) to get this situation addressed.
Despite the great efforts being made, progress has been too slow. It is not acceptable for anyone to be left in the situation where they have to sleep rough for the night.
The real solution to the shortage of emergency beds is more homes, not more hostels.
Focus Ireland is a strong advocate of the Government’s Housing First strategy and of the reconfiguration of homeless services in Dublin to ensure people who become homeless are supported to move on to suitable accommodation as quickly as possible, and certainly within six months.
The Government is reviewing the Homeless Strategy and Focus Ireland has said it needs to urgently set a tight new timeframe for meeting the targets to end homelessness and the need to sleep rough. We firmly believe the problems can be solved if the vital move-on housing is provided for people who need it. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – Fr Peter McVerry (September 6th) is right about emergency homeless services. Trust has been working with people sleeping rough since 1975 and can verify that the situation is much worse now than it has ever been.
It is worth remembering that all of those working in the field of homelessness – administrators and politicians – agreed with the findings produced ad nauseam by researchers. This came at enormous expense to the taxpayer over the lifetime of the Homeless Initiative/Homeless Agency: it was claimed there was no need for emergency services and that homelessness would end by 2010.
The findings were never challenged where they should have been. Those not agreeing with the findings who attempted to highlight the need for emergency services for homeless people found themselves isolated and seen as not being progressive; and they were regularly accused of “maintaining people in their homeless state”.
The chickens have now come home to roost. – Yours, etc,