Levels of homelessness an outrage, says Simon

THE Simon Community yesterday called on the State to fulfil its own recommendations and pay for the housing and care of more than 5,000 homeless people nationwide.

Shelters all over the country are being forced to turn homeless people away because they do not have the room to cope with the escalating crisis, Simon Communities of Ireland director Conor Hickey said.

While Simon and other voluntary groups have done their best to care for the homeless, the problem will not be solved until the Government takes full statutory responsibility for funding the housing and care of the homeless, Mr Hickey said.