Charities criticise delay in homelessness action plan

St Vincent de Paul's head of social justice and policy highlighted the 'trauma that children go through'

Stock picture: Andrew Matthews/PA

Children and families in emergency accommodation have been let down by a delay in a new action plan on homelessness, according to charity St Vincent de Paul.

Louise Bayliss, head of social justice and policy at St Vincent de Paul, was critical of the delay, saying she had seen the “trauma that children go through” while in homelessness.

The Government has delayed the plan until September, despite previous indications that it could have gone to Cabinet last week.

Government sources have indicated the report is all but complete, with no major sections of the plan expected to be revised before it is published.

One Government source said Taoiseach Micheál Martin wanted to “guarantee that it has the funding in the budget”.

It is understood that between €15m and €20m is being sought to fund the plan.

Ms Bayliss said it is “bad enough” that there are high numbers of children in emergency accommodation, but that support workers are not provided to them.

“That’s outrageous,” she said. 

It’s bad enough that we can’t give the children a home, but we can’t even give them an hour’s therapy.

She said it was critical for children to get support from their own support worker, rather than from just family support services: “Children are aware of the burden the parents are facing. Parents are doing their best. They’re doing the right thing.

“But obviously, the child is picking up on the stress, and when the child has that stress, they don’t have somebody else to offload it to, and we’re not even providing a child support worker for them.”

Ms Bayliss said this could be corrected “almost immediately”, saying she hoped those supports would be included within the plan.

She added there should be a guarantee introduced to ensure no child is in emergency accommodation for more than six months.

Stephen Moffatt, national policy manager at Barnardos, said there was some “initial disappointment” to hear the action plan was being delayed: “If it is a case that they’re having to secure additional funding for the action plan, and that delaying it might help, we might understand that.

“Although at the same time, we would be somewhat concerned that they develop an action plan where they’re not aware of how much resources they would have to actually fulfil the commitments set out in it.”

Mr Moffatt said the plan needed to provide additional supports to improve the childhood of children who enter emergency accommodation.

He said this would help to “try and mitigate some of the harm, some of the trauma that they’re facing”.

The plan is expected to contain measures to ensure victims and survivors of domestic violence would be supported to remain in their own homes, alongside new tenancy sustainment services in each local authority.

The plan commits to exploring an early identification and referral system for families who are considered at risk of homelessness.

It contains recommendations for stronger co-operation between the departments of housing, health, and education, as well as with wider support services.

• Tadgh McNally, Political Reporter