Sharon Lambert: Every homeless death leaves behind a family who couldn't access services

Nobody working in the area of homelessness would have been shocked by the recent RTÉ Investigates programme

People experiencing homelessness report that when attending mental health services, they are rejected due to a substance dependence issue and redirected to addiction services. At times, these people are also rejected from addiction services as their mental health needs are too complex for those services and directed back to mental health services. File photo: Larry Cummins

While many members of the public were shocked by what was uncovered by the recent RTÉ Investigates Sleeping in The Rough programme, those working in the area were not. 

The issues raised are neither new nor exclusive to the current pandemic. Numerous research reports have revealed huge issues in the way this country responds to homelessness.