Government reneged on funds pledge, says Simon

HOUSING group Simon says it has to rely on generous donations from the public to fund many essential services to the homeless because it claims the Government reneged on its promises.

Last year, over 50% of the €8 million essential running costs had to be made up by donations and fundraising, the charity said yesterday.

Simon, which runs communities in Dublin, Cork, Dundalk and Galway, is seeking a pre-budget confirmation the Government will honour its promises to the homeless.

“Commitments made two years ago in the Government’s strategy to tackle the homelessness crisis have yet to be met,” it reported in its annual review.

Last night, a Department of Health spokesperson said under the strategy, current funding for accommodation and related services, including those for the homeless, this year would be in the region of €45m. This is a €33m increase since 1999. Another €5m was provided in 2002 specifically for youth homelessness.

The homelessness crisis is worsening, according to Simon: “Outreach services have increased, more transitional and move-on accommodation is being sourced, and we continue to strive to help people find permanent, secure accommodation. Every service we operate is essential and linked in to the local delivery of the Government’s national strategy.”

Homelessness - An Integrated Strategy, published by the Government in May 2000, marked a major move forward in homelessness service provision, said Simon. “It clearly outlined the role of the local authorities to fund accommodation services and health boards to fund the in-house care and health needs of people who are homeless,” said Noeleen Hartigan, social policy and research co-ordinator.

“However, despite the fact it is now the end of the second year of the strategy, many projects do not know what funding they will receive to cover this year’s costs, let alone what they can hopefully plan to receive for 2003.”

The Department of Health’s original €7.6m allocation for the homeless in 2001 was recognised as a gross underestimation of the level of nationwide

service needed, the charity said. “Simon welcomed the increase announced by the Minister for Health and Children to €15.2m in 2002 and €22.8m in 2003,” it added. “However, despite this increase, it remains unclear how these monies will be allocated.”

Simon urged the State to implement a comprehensive data strategy on homelessness. It said official homeless figures “don’t tell us what we need to know to address homelessness”.