State 'failing' homeless people

THE Government is failing to honour a commitment given in 2000 to develop a strategy for people who are homeless and have mental health problems, it was claimed yesterday.

"Over three years later nothing meaningful has been implemented," said Conor Hickey, federation director of the Simon Communities in Ireland.

He insisted that with sufficient political will appropriate services could be made available to allow people to live with dignity.

"Every day in Simon services throughout the country, we are working with people who cannot access even the most basic of services to meet their mental health needs."

Mr Hickey was speaking at an appeal, jointly organised by Simon and Amnesty International, on Dublin's Grafton Street to heighten public awareness of the link between homelessness and mental illness. It is estimated that 75% of people who are homelessness also have mental health problems.

One-third experience severe mental illness that contributed significantly to their homeless situation. "If more people were aware of this, we might see greater public protest at the utter inadequacy of government responses to their plight," said Amnesty director Seán Love. "This is why we are bringing our message to the streets the very streets where the more unfortunate live."

Senator Mary Henry, who said she had tried to highlight the connection between homelessness and mental illness a number of times, blamed the lack of government action on the fact that there weren't any votes in tackling this issue.

She referred to the heart-rending story of Mary, 42, homeless since 14 because of her alcoholic father's sexual assault on her. Diagnosed with schizophrenia, she is paranoid and has a particular fear of men. She once stabbed a stranger in the neck thinking he was a former partner who had been abusive to her.

Now attending an inner city centre, where she is involved in an alcohol detoxification programme, Mary has attempted suicide by hanging herself and cutting her wrists. Her behaviour is stabilised by medication, but she can forget to take it. She has been in and out of St Brendan's and St James's hospitals for many years.

"The big problem for Mary," said Senator Henry, "is the total lack of mental health services for women during the day. It's a common experience for many women who are homeless with mental ill-health."

Actor Mick Lally, who was also at the appeal yesterday, told the story of ex-army man Pat, 40, who was diagnosed with schizophrenia. He sleeps rough most of the time as he has been banned from most accommodation services for the homeless people because of his anti-social behaviour. Pat has been "passed around" psychiatric services without having his needs met.