Homeless Agency - Time to deal with problem nationwide

WITH the festive season upon us, the plight of homeless people eking out a hand-to-mouth existence on the margins of one of Europe’s richest nations is inevitably etched on the public conscience.

On cold, wet, wintry nights, only the hardest heart could ignore the troubling sight of those who have no choice but to sleep rough on the streets.

So, the creation of a new service aimed at addressing Dublin’s homeless problem on a permanent basis is to be welcomed.

Commissioned by the Homeless Agency, the voluntary organisation will set up a dedicated 12-member team to work closely with around 240 people, helping them to maintain a home with the laudable objective of ensuring they do not end up on the streets again.

Hopefully, the Dublin service will set a headline for other cities to emulate with the aim, as far as possible, of eradicating homelessness in Irish society.