Sir - The Government's recently published National Anti-Poverty Strategy (NAPS), "Building an Inclusive Society", offers little hope to the estimated 150,000 in Ireland who are inadequately housed or homeless.
The Government's strategy lists seven targets on housing and homelessness. At best these merely re-state previous Government positions; at worst they mask a deteriorating housing situation by creating the illusion of Government action.
Between 1996 and 1999 homelessness in Ireland doubled. There are currently at least 5,234 people counted as homeless, yet the Government strategy has no target for an overall reduction in this number. In fact, it lists only one target on homelessness - the provision of appropriate accommodation to rough sleepers. While this is welcome, other vital targets such as reducing youth homelessness, which were discussed at length in the consultation process, were left out of the final strategy by the Cabinet.
The past five years have seen a dramatic increase in the numbers of people looking for local authority and voluntary sector housing, with people spending increasing periods on waiting lists before being offered a home. By not setting a target to reduce the length of time on waiting lists, the Government has admitted that the existing social housing programmes cannot meet the growing need. There has been significant progress in increasing the quantity of social housing recently. However, the Government is clearly admitting that social housing waiting lists will not reduce in any meaningful way in the next seven to 10 years.
Since 1996 only 111 of the 2,220 required Traveller-specific accommodation units have been provided. The target that all necessary Traveller accommodation will be provided by 2004 merely re-states Government policy, and has been legislation since 1998.
The National Anti Poverty Strategy could have been a blueprint for a comprehensive, credible plan to tackle growing levels of housing and accommodation poverty. The roof over people's head is a basic right and a basic priority. Why is it once again relegated to the second division?
We will continue to lobby and campaign for a society in which everyone has the right to decent and appropriate accommodation. It is possible, but it will be a reality only when there is a political will to face the growing crisis head on. - Yours, etc.,
GRAINNE O'TOOLE,
Irish Traveller Movement,
Eustace Street, Dublin 2;
CONOR HICKEY,
Simon Communities of Ireland,
Exchequer Street, Dublin 2;
JOHN MONAGHAN,
Society of
St Vincent de Paul,
New Cabra Road, Dublin 7;
KIERAN MURPHY,
Threshold,
North Brunswick Street,
Dublin 7.