Charity attacks Government over housing

A leading homeless charity has criticised the Government for failing to meet its targets in providing social housing.

Mr Declan Jones: homelessness is a structural problem

Focus Ireland says there are 5,581 homeless people in the State and over 140,000 still on the housing waiting list.

It claims the Government is committed to building 41,500 local authority units by 2007 under the National Anti-Poverty Strategy, but only 12,838 houses have been built so far.

Speaking at the publication of the charity's annual report for last year today, chief executive Mr Declan Jones said the annual rate of social housing provision needed to be doubled if the shortfall was be tackled effectively.

"The bottom line is not enough housing is being provided to allow people move on from homelessness or move off the housing lists," he said.

"We cannot forget that the ultimate resolution to homelessness is the provision of adequate and secure housing, accompanied by community supports".

Mr Jones said homelessness and lack of housing is a structural problem. But he said that, too often: "The public indicts the individual, but its painfully clear that people who come from certain areas face greater difficulties in accessing decent housing, proper health care and essential education".

He called on the Government to listen to people who have been further marginalised during the boom years if it is serious about building a more equal society.

Focus Ireland provides emergency, transitional and permanent accommodation for 500 people in Waterford, Limerick and Dublin. During 2003, 3,994 people - 68 per cent of them single adult males - used its services, an increase of 9 per cent on 2002.

The charity said its drop-in "Extension" programme for young people between 16 and 25 showed a 57 per cent increase in those accessing the service.