Threshold plays crucial role in housing

Robert Sullivan (Letters, May 24) questions the need for the existence of Threshold, the National Housing Charity.

Threshold plays a crucial role in helping people with their housing problems and preventing people from becoming homeless. In the current difficult economic climate, with increased levels of unemployment, debt, and mortgage and rent arrears, our services are needed more than ever. The demand for our services is clearly evidenced by the fact that nationally our advice offices dealt with close to 20,000 queries in 2010.

Founded by a Cork man, Fr. Donal O’Mahony, more than 30 years ago with the aim of upholding the rights of people to good quality accommodation, Threshold continues to work with some of the most vulnerable people in society by providing independent advice and advocacy services and delivering housing supports for those who are at risk of homelessness.