Public blame Govt for homelessness - survey

Almost two-thirds of Irish people blame the Government for continuing homelessness and the housing crisis, according to a survey commissioned by Focus Ireland.

63% of respondents to the survey blamed Government inaction for the failure to reduce homelessness and the number of people on housing waiting lists.

Focus Ireland is due to reveal more details of the survey at the launch of its ‘Right to a Home’ campaign later today.

The organisation said homelessness in Ireland was continuing to rise, even though the Government's three-year strategy to address the problem is now in its final year.

Focus said the latest statistics show that 5,581 people were homeless in Ireland in 2002, compared to 5,234 in 1999.