THE LATEST draft strategy on homelessness is a disappointment. It sets out important objectives and identifies the need for co-ordinated action, while ignoring the fact that funding has already dried up for key homeless services. The report is broadly progressive and well-meaning. But, in the absence of an administrative reality check and the establishment of specific funding and housing targets it will have little impact.
The most vulnerable groups in society suffer first in any economic downturn. This has already happened. Funding voted for homeless services and for mental- health care was raided by the Health Service Executive and used elsewhere in the system. There is no redress available for the individuals and the voluntary agencies directly affected. The HSE simply announced that no money for the development of homeless services would be provided in 2008. As a result, 60 separate projects in Dublin and elsewhere have been mothballed. Other housing plans have been deferred.
The HSE decision had clear implications for Government policy that was committed to ending long-term homelessness by 2010. But no hint of this difficulty emerges in the official document. Nor does the draft policy refer to the continuing failure of local authorities to provide a sufficient number of social and affordable houses to meet current demands. In the same way, the unacceptable and sub-standard nature of emergency accommodation being provided in many areas does not rate a mention. In such circumstances, for the Government to signal acceptance of the broad thrust of this revised strategy means very little.
Homeless people do not rate highly with politicians and, as a consequence, come towards the bottom of the official pecking order. In spite of that, significant progress was made in recent years when economic times were good. Emergency BB accommodation was initially used to get homeless people off the streets. Shelters, move-on accommodation and a range of other services were later provided. There is, however, a worrying assumption in the draft strategy that the emergency is over and that funding should be directed towards permanent housing. Given the rapid rise in unemployment and a continuing shortage in social and affordable housing, homelessness is likely to be with us for some time.
Homelessness is not a random process and, the document acknowledges, it can be prevented. Poverty, a lack of housing options, mental health issues and inadequate family supports are the main underlying causes. But, in order to tackle the problem, advice and a range of services will have to be provided at local level through multi-disciplinary teams. If it is to have an appreciable impact, the final report will have to adopt a more robust and campaigning approach towards Government and the State agencies involved. Now is the time for determined intervention. Otherwise, we will be playing catch-up for years.