Charity: State failing on homelessness

THE Government is unwilling to allocate sufficient resources to provide long-term housing for the homeless as set out in its own policy, a leading charity for people who are homeless has warned.

Focus Ireland, which yesterday launched its annual report, said Government schemes were failing to deliver long-term solutions for the homeless and called on it to step up to commitments made.

Mike Allen, advocacy officer with the charity, said it was more than 18 months since the Housing Minister Michael Finneran announced a leasing scheme which was intended to ensure social housing was provided during the economic crisis.