Sir, - The cross-departmental study into adult homelessness which has been accepted by the Minister for Housing, Bobby Molloy and the Cabinet, together with the recent study of youth homelessness which has been accepted by Micheal Martin, Minister for Health, shows that similar causes of homelessness have been identified in both groups.
For approximately the past 20 years, we have been outlining the nature of adult homelessness - alcoholism, emotional problems, literacy problems, lack of social skills and incapacity for independent living. Until fundamental, innovative structures and resources are put in place this problem will continue to grow and compound itself.
In the view of those of us who work with homeless people, the recent proposal of a "director for youth homelessness" is only adding a further structure to the present inadequate one, which has failed miserably to address the wider issues around youth homelessness in the past. - Yours, etc.,
Sam Cleere, Waterford Men's Hostel, Waterford.