Homeless people are existing on ‘scraps’

FOCUS Ireland, the anti-poverty lobby, has accused the Government of providing ‘scraps’ to the homeless and disadvantaged and decried welfare cuts.

The organisation has also urged the introduction of price controls on basic foodstuffs to preserve the health of the homeless or the disadvantaged.

Declan Jones, chief executive of Focus, said yesterday an investigation was needed to identify the basic foods needed to ensure a healthy diet for all.

He said Government policies have put the most disadvantaged at an even greater risk of ill health.

Speaking at the launch of Hungry for Change, a seminar on the homeless, he also demanded that the Government ensure that welfare payments are sufficient to enable people to buy vital food stuffs.

The seminar was launched at the Chester Beatty Library in Dublin and included the results of a pilot study by the Combat Poverty Agency.

The survey involved 73 family units which were homeless and is the first of its kind in Ireland to measure the impact of homelessness on people's diet.

Mr Jones said: "The research shows the terrible impact being homeless has on a person's diet and their health.

"They can't afford to buy proper food while living on social welfare and have few ways of cooking a decent meal as they're sleeping rough or living in emergency accommodation."

Jim Walsh of the Combat Poverty Agency told the seminar that the agency would be investigating the cost of a healthy diet and examining how welfare rates can be made to meet those needs.

The pilot study showed that homeless adults suffer from poor diets and inadequate nutrition due to lack of access to proper cooking facilities and low income.

Following the findings of this research Focus Ireland said it was calling on the Government to reverse the cuts to the diet supplement scheme and for it to increase the minimum welfare payment to €150 by 2007.

Mr Jones said he was alarmed to find all of the people taking part in the survey ate above the recommended daily serving of food high in fats and sugars and that 8% of the study participants were underweight compared to just 1% in the general population.

In the study 49% of people were staying in hostels, 21% in B&B's, 18% in a night shelter and 13% were sleeping rough.

Focus Ireland maintains that recent Government policy is making it harder than ever before for people to eat healthily if they're homeless.

Mr Jones said: "Government policies such as the recent €60 million in welfare cuts which includes cuts in the diet supplement scheme have hit the most vulnerable people very hard."

He added: "If I ask the question now what is on the menu for homeless people under this Government? Then the massive social welfare cuts in this year's Budget could allow me to say Crumbs, scraps and leftovers. This shows the Government has its priorities wrong."