It was the State's responsibility to solve homelessness and charities could not be expected to do that job, President Michael D Higgins has said.
He said solving the housing crisis must happen “in the short term” and was “not rocket science” in a wealthy country full of people with skills in the construction industry.
The President was speaking on Friday at an event to mark the 100th anniversary of the Back Lane hostel – an emergency accommodation facility for homeless men, managed by the De Paul Trust, in Dublin. He said he had been visiting homeless organisations over the past four years and making the same point repeatedly.
“Homelessness inhibits a person’s ability to participate on an equal footing . . . through marginalisation and discrimination it attacks the very fabric of a functioning community. I that respect I believe that the great public support that is now apparent to address homelessness is a very positive signal that there is a will at all levels of society to address this problem.”
He said full implementation of the action plan, drawn up last December following a special summit on homelessness called by the Minister for the Environment Alan Kelly "must be an urgent priority".
Ending poverty
The demands being made by charities, and an increasing section of society, that poverty and homelessness be ended, were growing louder. They could no longer be regarded as “unusual” or “residual” demands.
“This is very important to all of us. It is so important we all speak with one voice. These demands are very capable of becoming the majority view. People do want a more just society and they can get it if they insist on having it,” he said.
“What is needed is a housing-led approach to ending long-term homelessness, recognising that the provision of good quality, long-term, secure housing and related support provides the best outcome for people affected by homelessness.”
Translating the vision of a housing-led approach into a reality was complex and would require co-operation between Government, local authorities and housing bodies.
“I do believe we can, and must, solve this crisis in the short term. It will be crucial that the voice of those who are at the coalface in delivering the services and the voice of those who use homeless services will be heard and will inform the policies that are chosen.”
The Back Lane hostel, where the President was speaking, provides support and accommodation to 60 homeless men each night and supports more than 400 men per year. It is run in partnership with the Society of St Vincent de Paul.
