Homelessness is a vivid indication of social and family breakdown and the increasing lack of cohesion in Irish society. Lamentably, it has been growing in recent years, pointing an accusing finger at the indifference of a more affluent society. Thus it is heartening to find the Government reacting with determination to what has become an urgent social problem. Yesterday's announcement of an integrated strategy to deal with homelessness by the Minister for Housing and Urban Renewal, Mr Molloy, promises to address the question effectively by bringing together the various departments and voluntary agencies involved throughout the State and providing substantial extra funds. It is based on a report, which the Government has adopted, from a specialist inter-departmental committee. Its mandate was to draw up a comprehensive response by addressing all relevant matters relating to homelessness.
Local authorities and health boards will have a prominent role to play in drawing up action plans and providing emergency accommodation and care. Settlement programmes are intended to help homeless people back to independent living. Capital spending on accommodation is to be doubled over the next five years and additional funding will be made available to voluntary bodies and the Department of Health and Children for in-house care and settlement services. The need for preventive services is recognised, as is the necessity to tackle deeper causes such as housing shortages and basic health care.
Mr Molloy estimated that some 3,743 households and 5,234 individuals are directly affected, nearly 4,000 of them in Dublin. At any one time 300 people can be sleeping rough in the capital city. He also quoted research showing homeless people are substantially exposed to risks such as heavy drinking and smoking as well as psychiatric and chronic disease. There is a pattern of criminal recidivism. And there has been a great deal more concern recently about the sharp rise in youth homelessness arising from chronic family breakdown and inability to cope among the poorest sections of the population.
This all points to the fact that a society unable or unwilling to meet the needs of its most vulnerable citizens will pay a high price for such a lack of social cohesion. Indices of drug and alcohol addiction, petty crime and general social insecurity are closely related to such a political failure. All the more reason, therefore, to welcome this political initiative, as several of the voluntary organisations involved were happy to do yesterday. It represents a belated recognition that the issue must be tackled comprehensively - by joining up separate Government departments - and coherently, by addressing preventative as well as emergency services.
Much will depend now on how these commitments are implemented. Precisely because homeless people are among the most vulnerable of our citizens they are entitled to be treated sensitively and fairly, with due regard to their rights and convenience by the all too diverse officialdoms charged with their welfare. This strategy is undoubtedly an important step in that direction.