Homeless funding cuts shortsighted

Focus Ireland agrees with the grave concerns of Dick Brady, assistant city Manager of Dublin City Council, over the impact of cuts to homeless funding of 5% to 10% as reported in Jennifer Hough’s article of Feb 20.

The cuts were implemented in 2011 and the article reports they are expected to apply again this year at the very time demand for services is rising and more people are at risk of losing their home.

The biggest obstacle to ending long-term homelessness is that too few homes are being provided for people who are homeless. Service providers and local authorities have worked together to restructure services from a situation where homelessness was managed to one where they directly support people who are homeless to move into a home. Partnership between different organisations has been a key to this restructuring.

Our services supported over 170 households to settle in homes last year but a lot more needs to be done. At least 3,000 homes are needed to end long-term homelessness. The housing first approach of the Government Policy Pathway To Home is the way to tackle homelessness. However, this policy is entirely dependant on homes being provided.

Our pre-budget submission last year outlined how taking the action to end long-term homelessness would not only help to improve the lives of thousands of the most marginalised, but it would also actually save the State money.

Focus Ireland’s proposal would be the immediate employment of rent supplement to support those in long-term homelessness into a home. We believe that continued cuts to funding, rather than creating savings through improving access to housing, is shortsighted and will lead to a deepening homeless crisis.

Roughan MacNamara

Advocacy Manager

Focus Ireland

Dublin 8