Sir, - Another article on homelessness - this time Fintan O'Toole offers his views on one aspect of the issue (Opinion, July 11th). There will be more reports, articles, discussions, questions, working parties, recommendations, booklets, pamphlets and so on - but to what end? As Peter McVerry repeatedly says, the problem of young homeless people has been going on for over 20 years, as indeed has the overall problem of homeless people of all ages.
The solutions are so easy, so clear and simple, but seemingly impossible to implement. One must assume, therefore that successive governments actually do not care, are not interested and will do nothing except the bare minimum when one acute case is highlighted in the media to cause them some embarrassment. Otherwise they tinker a bit here and there, but no urgent, large-scale national action is seriously undertaken.
Homeless people need houses, buildings of varying size and requirements where they can live with dignity in a relatively safe, healthy and attractive environment - just like anyone else. Some will need other services and transitional places to stay before they are ready for permanent decent houses. Every town and city throughout the country should have a variety of buildings available for all forms of accommodation for people who are unable to provide it for themselves, for many and varied reasons.
We have learned now that money was never an issue. Some people used the wealth of the nation to line their own pockets while effectively lining the coffins of hundreds of deprived people throughout the decades. And this is happening still. It is scandalous, inexcusable, grotesque, but not unbelievable anymore. People with power and money evidently do not really care about the less fortunate, preferring to blame us for our own misfortunes. The so-called social services effectively destroy people already traumatised by various family difficulties by piling on more and more obstacles to grant even the most basic and meagre help.
I know what I'm talking about as someone who has had direct contact with social welfare, supplementary welfare, local authorities housing and legal aid offices for over 10 years. To be alive still after all that is a miracle, and still I have no home. I endure continual bureaucratic harassment and as yet no resolution of some legal issues in sight. And people wonder why some take to drink, or drugs or commit suicide. Perhaps people don't even bother to wonder about such things any more. - Yours, etc.,
Joan M. Jennings, Queens Park, Monkstown, Co Dublin.