Emergency accommodation not a solution

FOLLOWING the publication of Focus Ireland’s Annual Report 2002 last week, the Minister for Housing and Urban Renewal, Noel Ahern, said Focus had misled people suggesting “5,000 people were sleeping rough” and he added that “temporary accommodation is in place for those who require it”.

Focus Ireland clearly stated that the 5,581 people who are homeless are living both on the streets and in emergency accommodation. However, the minister's response is regrettable, as it seems to suggest that all is fine if people are living in emergency accommodation.

Our own detailed research has shown the terrible impact on people who are forced to live in hostels and B&Bs for long periods of time. A Focus report in 2000 revealed a dramatic rise in the use of B&Bs in Dublin. It shot up from just five cases in 1990 to a total of 1,202 households (of which 57% were families) in 1999. The research also found the damaging impact of living in this type of accommodation as families are cooped up in one or two rooms with no cooking facilities and nowhere for their children to play. It can also lead to vulnerable people losing out on family and community support as the B&Bs are often not even in their own local area.

A recent report (on behalf of the Homeless Agency) also revealed the length of time people are forced to live in B&Bs rose from only 20 days in 1993 to a current average of 18 months.

The previous government document: 'Homelessness An Integrated Strategy' recommended that an action plan for Dublin should prioritise the elimination of the use of B&Bs for families other than for emergencies and then only for no longer than a month.

Two of the main strategic aims (2001 to 2003) of 'Shaping the Future An Action Plan to Tackle Homelessness in Dublin' were to 'increase the supply of appropriate emergency, transitional and long-term housing to the homeless and to reduce the length of time people spend in emergency accommodation'. Focus Ireland stresses these aims have not been met because of the failure of the government to provide enough permanent housing.

Minister Ahern maintains there are only about 100 people sleeping rough in Dublin. The recent report carried out by the ESRI on behalf of the Homeless Agency clearly found 312 people reported they were sleeping rough in Dublin.

I would suggest the Government and Minister Ahern look more closely at how they might tackle these matters instead of suggesting Focus Ireland is misleading people.

Declan Jones,

Chief Executive,

Focus Ireland,

14a, Eustace Street,

Dublin 2.