Madam, - With the election now concluded, debate will begin shortly on the new programme for government.
In this regard we would like to draw your attention to the expressed commitment by all political parties to the MakeRoom campaign, targeting an end to homelessness by 2010.
Via this campaign, we are committed to ensuring that no one will have to sleep rough because of lack of appropriate services, no one will have to live in emergency accommodation for longer than is an emergency and no one will become homeless due to a lack of services or inadequate housing provision.
MakeRoom objectives are focused on responding to what people need, including meeting existing gaps in emergency accommodation; more and better housing; support to leave homelessness; renting on a low income; proper standards in renting; and tackling poverty and preventing homelessness.
The endorsement of these objectives by all political parties prior to the election must now be reflected in practical actions within the new programme.
This is critical if the aim of ending long-term homelessness is to be achieved within the lifetime of the current Dáil. - Yours, etc,
PATRICK BURKE, CEO, Simon Communities of Ireland; DECLAN JONES, CEO, Focus Ireland; BOB JORDAN, Director, Threshold; KIERAN MURPHY, Director of Operations, Society of St Vincent De Paul, Dublin 2.