An integrated plan aimed at ending homelessness in Dublinwas launched today.
The goal of the plan, called
Shaping the Future,
is to eliminate long term homelessness in Dublin by 2010 and, where short-term homelessness exists, to place people in appropriate housing as quickly as possible.
The plan aims to:
- improve access to advice, information and referral services
- reduce street homelessness by two-thirds
- improve emergency accommodation
- settle homeless people in the community
- increase long-term housing options and
- improve access to health, treatment and community care services for homeless people.
Speaking at the launch of the plan this afternoon, the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, said that the Government would provide £180 million initially for the plan but said further funds would be made available if they were deemed necessary.
"One very important policy development which emerges from both the Homeless Strategy and the Dublin Plan is to ensure that people who become homeless are assisted into long-term housing as quickly as possible," Mr Ahern said.
"We have to move away from past policies on homelessness which were driven by short-term measures, an overwhelming emphasis on emergency accommodation and an over-reliance on insecure and inadequate funding."