Homelessness is a greater problem in three Northern Ireland counties than in their neighbouring counties across the Border, according to findings published yesterday by the Simon Community.
But the study accuses housing authorities in the Republic of seriously underestimating the extent of homelessness.
The study was carried out for the Simon Community of Ireland and the Simon Community Northern Ireland. The report was launched at a function in Monaghan by the President, Mrs McAleese.
It found that in the past year 1,892 individuals or families were regarded as homeless in counties Armagh, Fermanagh and Tyrone.
In counties Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim and Monaghan, only 26 individuals or families were regarded as homeless in 1996 - but the researchers say the true figure is 10 times higher. Local authorities in the Republic adopt very restrictive ways of measuring homelessness and these lead to serious underestimates, it says. These include counting the number of homeless people at only one point in time and basing the official figure on that. In Northern Ireland a series of counts is taken over a period. The researchers say the cross-Border regions studied are comparable in several respects: they are largely rural with low population growth, a higher than average proportion of older residents and a relatively high dependence on small farms.
In the three Northern Ireland counties a few districts seem to have rising numbers of homeless people, the report says. There is a pressing need for more hostel accommodation for single homeless people in Armagh, Fermanagh and Tyrone, it says. Homeless people would also benefit from a rent guarantee scheme as they find it difficult to raise the deposit for rented accommodation.
In the Republic, too, researchers found a pressing need for emergency accommodation for single homeless people. There is a need for more assistance for voluntary organisations to help them to meet the running costs of the accommodation they provide.
For both North and South the researchers recommend "homeless forums" made up of the various agencies which come into contact with homeless people.