The Homeless Agency has installed a new software solution to integrate the different agencies working with the homeless in the greater Dublin area.
The agency, a government body formed in May 2001 to co-ordinate services for the homeless in Dublin, is piloting the new software, Dublin Link, which is provided by MoreSoft Computers.
Director of the Homeless Agency Ms Mary Higgins said an integrated solution was necessary to co-ordinate data from the various organisations that deal with the homeless.
"Until now, services for people who are homeless have been provided by different voluntary and statutory agencies, with no overall co-ordination," said Ms Higgins. "Services are fragmented and people who are homeless have to go from agency to agency to avail of different services.
"While homelessness is a complex problem, it can be solved. But that requires a comprehensive response from all agencies working in this field. A key element to enlisting that cohesive response is to have the tools to make it happen. Dublin Link gives us that edge".
Dublin Link, a web-based database, has been installed in five pilot sites. The different agencies which will be accessing the database include the Salvation Army, Focus Ireland, The Simon Community and Failtiu.
"Becoming homeless generally results in the lost of identity, " says Ms Nicola Davis, head of service delivery with the Homeless Agency.
"It is very hard therefore for services to begin to accurately evaluate the needs of people when it holds so little information on them. Knowledge here will lead to better care, more focused services and in time we hope, a reduction of people who are homeless in Dublin".