‘Key to the door’ action plan unites statutory and voluntary agencies in battle against homelessness

THE most persistent and challenging barriers remaining for people who experience homelessness in Dublin are access to appropriate accommodation and ensuring also that the necessary healthcare, training, education and employment needs of individuals are addressed.

Homelessness is a complex problem requiring a complex set of solutions involving a wide range of services both statutory and voluntary.

The vision of the Homeless Agency Partnership is that by 2010, long-term homelessness and the need for people to sleep rough will be eliminated in Dublin.

This vision is underpinned by the assumption that without equitable access to appropriate accommodation and healthcare, it will be impossible to prevent further instances of homelessness and to maintain people in their homes.

The Homeless Agency Partnership brings together voluntary and statutory organisations in Dublin in a coordinated way in order to address the needs of people who are experiencing homelessness.

This significant partnership approach has been very progressive in tackling homelessness in Dublin and the partnership is currently implementing ‘A Key to the Door’ action plan to address homelessness in the capital 2007-’10.

One of the core actions in ‘A Key to the Door’ is the provision of long-term housing with appropriate supports.

The Homeless Agency Partnership seeks the provision of such housing either through social rented housing provided by the local authorities and/or housing associations, or through increased access to housing in the private rented sector.

In the context of the action plan, the four local authorities in Dublin — Dublin City Council, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, Fingal County Council and South Dublin County Council — have committed to significant targets for the provision of social housing to homeless households.

The noteworthy commitment made by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, the HSE, the four local authorities in Dublin in terms of the allocation of resources to addressing homelessness in the capital must be continued.

The commitment and work undertaken by the voluntary sector in working with the statutory sector is critical to ensuring that there are appropriate accommodation options for people moving out of homelessness.

‘Counted In, 2005’ — a week-long survey of people experiencing homelessness in Dublin — showed a 19% decrease in the total number of people who were homeless from the previous survey in 2002.

Counted In, 2005 found that 2,015 people presented as homeless in Dublin, including adults and children.

The Homeless Agency is currently devising an improved assessment to measure the level of homelessness experienced by people in Dublin.

Counted In, 2008 will provide us with valuable information to continue to plan services to respond to the needs of people who are experiencing homelessness.

It is important to highlight the fact that for many people who experience homelessness, health and other support issues may have either contributed to or exacerbated their homelessness and the solution to their situation is not only housing, but also the appropriate short-term intervention and long-term support to ensure they can maintain their homes into the future.

Cathal Morgan

Director

Homeless Agency

Parkgate Hall

6-9 Conyngham Road

Dublin 8