A NEW Government strategy to tackle homelessness may not be published until senior officials are confident that funding shortages which are affecting dozens of new homeless services are resolved.
Approximately 40 key services for homeless people which were due to come on stream this year have been shelved as a result of a funding freeze imposed by the Health Service Executive (HSE).
In the meantime, homeless agencies such as Simon in Dublin and Cork report that they are turning away dozens of homeless people as a result of their emergency beds being used to capacity.
Against this backdrop of funding shortages, it is understood the Government is keen to avoid publishing the strategy until there is more certainty over what funding is available this year.
It also wants to be able to give indications of what kind of investment will be needed to implement the new five-year strategy, say sources familiar with the document. The blueprint itself envisages a major shift to using private rented accommodation rather than emergency hostel beds.
A draft version of the plan obtained by The Irish Timessays the Government hopes to eliminate long-term homelessness by ensuring homeless people are not in emergency accommodation, such as shelters or BBs, for longer than six months.
However, at present the 50-page strategy does not contain any details on how much funding will be needed, or whether Government money will be ring-fenced to ensure it is implemented.
In a statement yesterday, the Simon Communities of Ireland said an implementation plan - with funding commitments and targets to reduce homelessness - must accompany the blueprint.
Chief executive of Simon Patrick Burke said: "From the information available through The Irish Times, the provisions in the forthcoming strategy appear very laudable across a number of headings, but will be meaningless without any commitments on funding and interim targets."
He said Simon's communities around the country have reported greater pressure on services in recent months, while increasing numbers of homeless people are being turned away from emergency accommodation.
He said that for the strategy to have credibility, a clear implementation plan would be essential.
A draft of the strategy known as Homelessness - New Strategy indicates there are broadly sufficient emergency beds in the capital, and emphasis needs to be shifted to longer-term accommodation.
It points out that emergency accommodation costs at least twice as much as ordinary housing, and can contribute to people becoming caught in a cycle of homelessness.