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.