HSE decision to freeze funding for homeless projects is criticised

HOMELESS SERVICES providers have said it will be impossible to meet the Government target of ending long-term homelessness by 2010 because of a Health Service Executive decision to freeze funding for the sector.

At least 60 new projects which were assessed for funding by the Homeless Agency, the State agency charged with distributing funding to service providers, will receive no funding in 2008. Projects already in receipt of funding will see their funding remain at 2007 levels this year.

The Homeless Network, which comprises more than 20 organisations, including the Simon Community and Focus Ireland, have said improvements made in combating homelessness will be undermined if the HSE decision is not reversed.

"There have been improvements in terms of both funding for services and the development of an agreed strategy to tackle and prevent homelessness in Dublin in recent years. However, we have a serious situation at the moment as a lack of sufficient funding is already starting to impact directly on some homeless services and accommodation," Network chairman Dermot Kavanagh of Merchant's Quay Ireland said.

Several projects which had secured the approval of the Homeless Agency, and were almost ready to open their doors, have been put on hold because they have been told they will not receive funding.

The De Paul Trust was due to launch a new project which would have provided 30 homes for those moving on from emergency accommodation however, the lack of funding means the trust cannot cover essential staff costs.

A new homeless service in Middle Abbey Street designed to address the issue of homeless people congregating on the Liffey boardwalk, due to be opened by the Ana Liffey Drug Project, has also been denied funds.

The Simon Community said it has been refused funding for 12 projects related to the expansion of its drug and alcohol detox services and supported housing accommodation for vulnerable men and women.

A spokeswoman for the Homeless Agency said the HSE decision was "a setback" to the development of homeless services and said it would continue to work to try and secure resources. In a statement yesterday the HSE said it was examining funding for various homeless projects.