Charity unveils €200m plan to tackle homelessness

A €200m strategy was today launched by Focus Ireland to tackle homelessness in cities across the country.

The non-profit organisation plans to provide a home a day for 2,010 homeless households by the year 2010.

The scheme will target those in Dublin, Waterford and Limerick by securing 800 units of accommodation – 20% for families and 80% for single adults, the majority group of homeless people.

There are currently more than 48,000 households on the national housing lists, with around 4,000 people homeless.

But while private sector housing continues to thrive, the provision of social housing has declined – from 5,022 in 2003 to 4,510 in 2004.

A housing report by the National Economic and Social Council (NESC) has found an increase of 73,000 net social housing units is needed between 2005 and 2012 to tackle the backlog on the waiting lists and meet future needs.

Focus Ireland Chief Executive Declan Jones warned that housing alone will never fully solve the problem of homelessness.

In addition to the 800 new units, the agency’s tenancy support settlement services will double, helping 1,210 households people move on to independent living.

Mr Jones said: “The work outlined in our strategy is already underway and helping change people’s lives for the better. Our work has meant more people were able to start off this year with a place to call a home.”

He added the massive project is influenced by a sense of urgency and growing crisis at the failure to provide long term sustainable homes for people at risk of and moving out of homelessness.

Mr Jones continued: “The strategy is committed to working with people not just to find somewhere to live but also to support people to rebuild their lives and to access the skills, resources and supports necessary to make and sustain a home.”

The ambitious plan, officially launched in the Chester Beatty Library at Dublin Castle by Dr Rory O’Donnell, Director of the National Economic and Social Council (NESC), will tackle four keys elements including the provision of social housing, tenancy support and settlement services, preventing homelessness amongst people leaving state care and addressing homelessness amongst young people.

Dr O’Donnell added: “This strategy can be very successful if all the different agencies work together with Focus Ireland.”