Sir, – Pat Doyle CEO of Peter McVerry Trust (February 20th) suggests that everyone has a right to a home. As a social worker in the area of mental health, I agree, but finding and especially maintaining the right home for homeless people with complex needs such as; addiction, mental health, intellectual difficulties or a combination of all three is no easy task.
Different levels of support are required and different types of accommodation, from independent living units, to supported or staffed housing units, but for our more vulnerable and challenging homeless, a statutory requirement is needed that publicly-funded professionals from all relevant services work together. A commitment too, where possible, from the homeless themselves to adhere to tenancy agreements and treatment plans will be key to sustaining their right to a home. – Yours, etc,
FRANK BROWNE,
Ballyroan Park,
Templeogue, Dublin 16.