Focus Ireland says Cabinet are ‘failing to take homelessness seriously’

Focus Ireland has claimed Environment Minister Alan Kelly’s attempts to address the homelessness crisis are being hampered by a cabinet which is failing to take the issue seriously.

Its director of advocacy, Mike Allen, said that the majority of ministers believe the problem can be resolved with “emergency responses” like the winter initiative, instead of realising the issue is a long-term problem.

Mr Allen said issues like rent supplement, local authority houses and affordable accommodation have been ignored.