The Government is yet to fulfil its promise to provide 300 houses with support to people in emergency accommodation by the end of the year, despite there being 25,000 houses and flats unused in Dublin, according to Focus Ireland founder Sr Stan Kenney.
She urged the Government to act with greater urgency to meet its target to end long-term homelessness by the end of 2010, adding that no homes have been provided under the initiative to date.
Speaking at a Trinity College public meeting on homelessness during the recession, she said: “Many of us argued that if the 2010 target was to be achieved the government would need to provide 1,750 homes with support by the end of 2009 and again by the end of 2010. I am not confident that any will be delivered by Christmas.”
The Support to Live Independently scheme was set up in June to help people progress from homelessness to independent living in mainstream housing. Michael Finneran TD Minister for Housing and Local Services also promised to work with local authorities outside Dublin to expand the scheme.
Sr Kennedy criticised the Government for failing to end homelessness while resources were in abundance. “If we have achieved so little during the good times we’re not going to achieve anything during the bad times unless there is a clear demand,” she said. She said politicians had failed to prioritise vulnerable people because there were few votes to gain.
“The Government has given €6 billion to cover the cost of Nama, yet they tell us they can’t afford to provide housing for everyone who needs it,” she said.
“That a country with so many vacant homes and so many skilled professionals cannot provide housing with support for those people who are homeless is an incitement of our failure to protect the most vulnerable in society.”
Mr Finneran was unavailable for comment.