IN THESE days of financial retrenchment, positive news has become rare. But the Government has got at least one thing right. Funding for the homeless is being maintained at last year’s level by the Department of the Environment in an attempt to eliminate that affront to any civilised society – people sleeping rough in the streets. The Health Service Executive (HSE) must now follow suit and not divert money into other areas.
Considerable progress has already been made. In spite of the steep economic downturn and a doubling of unemployment, the number of people sleeping rough in Dublin has fallen sharply. Surveys conducted before Christmas in 2007 and again in 2008 showed that 104 people were sleeping rough. But, this year, the number has fallen to 60 in the four Dublin local authority areas because of efforts being made to rehouse and support these vulnerable individuals.
It is a difficult and complex area. Most of those living in the doorways and alleyways of the city are men, but there are some women. A factor common to both is drug or alcohol abuse and mental health issues. Because of that, providing emergency accommodation is not sufficient, although at times it can be vitally necessary.
Providing social supports within permanent accommodation is the optimum solution and efforts are being made to expand these services. Minister of State for Housing Michael Finneran hopes further progress can be made. And he has spoken of eliminating rough sleeping by the end of next year. That is an ambitious target, given the human frailties involved. There will be no hope of meeting it without committed support from the Department of Health and the HSE.
Some of those sleeping rough will not even communicate with service providers, such as the Simon Community or the Homeless Agency. Because of that, the nationality and even the sex of all those involved are not known. More than half of them are Irish. But the nature of the problem is changing. Some people who came to Ireland during the economic boom have lost their jobs, their self-confidence and their homes. Nationals from other EU states, particularly Poland, have been affected. People born in China and Russia are sleeping rough here too.
Homelessness has many causes. The longer the needs of these people are neglected, the more difficult it becomes to cater for them. At this time of year, providing basic accommodation for the homeless should be a minimum response.