Ending homelessness - Deadline must be set

People who had to endure the loss of water supplies during the recent cold snap will, no doubt, be more mindful of how difficult it must have been for anyone sleeping rough at that time.

There had been a target — set more than three years ago — to end homelessness by the end of 2010, but the deadline has not been met.

A new deadline is now necessary to concentrate minds on the need to tackle the problem, because those people are in dire need of help. Initially they may well have been at fault, but compassion dictates that society should help them in their current plight. Homelessness is an aspect of helplessness, and the most effective remedy is to help them help themselves as much as possible.

There are many so-called ghost estates in different parts of the country, but the people coming out of long-term homelessness have specific needs. In fairness to them — and everybody else — they cannot just be placed into houses or apartment blocks anywhere.

Mistakes have been made, but it is important that we learn from those mistakes. It is vital, in everybody’s interest, that housing be provided for the homeless near the services that those people need.