Plan to make 'home a reality'

Ongoing and fundamental problems in the State's homelessness strategy have prompted a five-year programme by one of the main homeless charities in an effort to address current shortcomings.

Focus Ireland, which publishes its strategy today, is aiming to make "home a reality" for over 2,000 households by 2010.

While the numbers sleeping rough have fallen and there has been "some improvement" in the range and accessibility of services, "the fundamental problem of an insufficient supply of affordable, good-quality and secure long-term housing remains," says the charity.

Chief executive Declan Jones points out there are 48,000 households on local authority housing waiting lists.

"While private-sector housing development continues to thrive with an estimated 71,000 private units built in 2004, there was a decline of 21.6 per cent in the provision of social housing," Mr Jones said.

There is also, he says, far too little being done in prevention work, particularly with key vulnerable groups.

The strategy also aims to give greater assistance to people newly in accommodation, to support their transition into long-term housing.

The key objectives will be:

Focus Ireland estimates the strategy will cost €200 million - the bulk of which will be provided by the State.

A shortfall of €37 million will be raised by the Focus Ireland organisation.

CASE STUDY: MICHELLE'S STUDY

If "Michelle" (29) had had greater emotional and practical support when she left care at 18, she might have avoided homelessness and a mental breakdown.

"I did have a good social worker, and she got me into sheltered accommodation but I didn't feel comfortable in the place. I stayed there for two years and I got my Leaving Cert, but there was such a mix of people there. We had different needs and there was just one worker between everyone."

The gentle-faced Dublin woman was determined to get a flat at that point but feels she should have been urged not to.

"I'd never had any experience of just running a home. I was a bit wild, wanted to go out all the time. I got very ill, because of the lifestyle really. I had a social worker but I should have been taken out of the situation to prevent the breakdown."

She spent a long time in hospital before linking in to Stanhope Green, a transitional housing project run by Focus Ireland. "There I had my own flat but I was helped to learn about household budgeting, about the fact that it's my space and I can tell people to leave if I want - about boundaries. And about respecting my space - cleaning and safety."

Dublin City Council has links with Stanhope Green and through that she has rented her own flat for just over a year.