‘Grave concern’ expressed over big cuts to homeless services

“Grave concern” has been expressed by Dublin City Council over 5%-10% cuts to homeless services implemented late in 2011 and which are expected to apply this year.

Assistant city manager Dick Brady wrote to senior HSE management stating the cuts, on top of others made at the start of 2011, will “hugely impact on our capacity to deliver and plan service provision”.

Mr Brady also expressed concern in a separate letter that there are no houses available for moving people into long-term accommodation — as per the Government’s new policy, Pathway to Home.

He said serious efforts need to be concentrated not on the “minute detail” of the policy, but in trying to access an adequate supply of housing.

Mr Brady said potential solutions need to kick in and he outlined ideas. One could be to pilot a “housing assistance payment” for the homeless.

The proposed payment would allow single people — who make up the largest cohort of homeless people — to be fast-tracked into private rented accommodation outside of the normal route of applying for rent allowance.

Dublin City Council also recommended a “one-stop-shop” in the city where housing, health and welfare needs would be provided under one roof.

Meanwhile, an unpublished report assessing Dublin’s homeless services says the Government’s model of service provision is not yet delivering on a “resettlement” culture.

Carried out by Murtagh and Partner consultants, a first draft of the report has been heavily criticised by the council, which is responsible for delivering on the model.

In a strongly worded letter to the assistant secretary general of the Department of the Environment, Mr Brady expressed his concern over “unsubstantiated findings” in the Murtagh review.

The council claims the method used by the consultants to arrive at their findings is “inaccurate” and contains significant “misclassification” of services.

“That the Murthagh report appears to conclude that resettlement is not taking place needs to be challenged,” he said.

“There has been very significant effort on all our parts to ensure a housing led approach to tackling homelessness...

“I believe despite all our efforts in terms of housing provision, supply has not kept pace with demand and we need to concentrate our efforts on why this is the case.”

It is not yet known what 2012 budgets are for homeless services, but a draft briefing document indicated that spending “parameters will be set having consideration and regard to the Murtagh report as a benchmark” and cuts are expected.

Last year, the department provided €40m to homeless services.