The new strategy on homelessness leaves out the crucial piece of the jigsaw, writes Joyce Loughnan
TODAY, THE Government launches its new homeless strategy entitled The Way Home, a strategy to address adult homelessness in Ireland 2008-2013. Focus Ireland is concerned that the strategy will be a deep disappointment for the 5,000 homeless people and the thousands more at risk of becoming homeless whose futures will be shaped by its content.
The strategy has merit. It will set a target of 2010 for the elimination of long-term homelessness. It will also place a statutory obligation on local authorities to develop homeless action plans. These are welcome developments.
However, these positives will be outweighed by its weaknesses.
The new strategy has been a long time in the making. In 2004 the Department of Environment commissioned a review of the two previous homeless strategies of 2000 and 2002. In 2006, Fitzpatrick Associates published what most observers considered a balanced report containing 21 detailed recommendations.
The review argued for a new strategy with "clearly defined objectives, actions, projected outcomes, timescales for delivery and an appropriate monitoring mechanism to track progress".
The review called for a new statutory definition of homelessness that would "produce a clearer, unambiguous understanding of what homelessness means for measurement and funding purposes".
Fitzpatrick Associates also recommended the establishment of "a co-ordinated funding mechanism for the disbursement of capital and current accommodation and care-related costs".
It is our understanding that none of these recommendations are contained in the document launched today.
In July 2007, Make Room - a coalition including Focus Ireland, St Vincent de Paul, Simon and Threshold - presented a detailed submission to the newly established National Homeless Consultative Committee outlining what we believed should be in any new strategy.
At the heart of our submission was "a vision to end homelessness by 2010", meaning that "no one will have to sleep rough because of lack of appropriate services, no one will have to live in emergency accommodation for longer than is an emergency, and no one will become homeless due to lack of services of inadequate housing provision".
The Make Room submission argued that the new strategy would be a "pivotal moment in the fight to end homelessness". Our recommendations included: improving the quality and availability of emergency services; increasing access to social housing; provision of long-term supported accommodation; improvement of standards in the private rented sector; improved co-ordination between statutory and voluntary sector providers; a greater focus on early preventative actions; and a review of the 1988 Housing Act in order to establish a clear, agreed definition of homelessness "that takes account of different layers of housing need".
In January 2008 Make Room, concerned that the new strategy would not be fully reflective of the Fitzpatrick review or the Make Room submission, called for greater consultation.
In February 2008 Make Room wrote to the then minister with responsibility for housing, Batt O'Keeffe, arguing that the strategy was too aspirational and needed further work. We specified that its resource allocations and implementation mechanisms remained unclear and that despite extensive engagement from the voluntary sector the document was not the product of a true partnership. We strongly argued that "it would be a mistake to publish it in its current form".
Seven months have since passed. Today, rather than the "pivotal moment" hoped for in 2007, we are anticipating a strategy that will be unclear on fundamental questions of priorities, targets, resourcing and responsibilities.
Meanwhile, 5,000 people continue to live without a home, 43,000 households remain on local authority housing lists and 36,000 children live in families on social housing waiting lists.
The National Partnership agreement commits the Government to provide for the needs of 60,000 households between 2006 and 2009.
The agreement also commits Government to provide 27,000 social units and 17,000 affordable units by 2009. Combined, these figures represent an agreed output target of 15,000 units per year.
On the basis of current Department of Environment housing statistics the Government is significantly behind on these commitments, producing 9,983 units in 2006 and 13,008 units in 2007.
Focus Ireland estimates that by the end of 2009, Government will be 25,000 units or over 40 per cent short of its social and affordable targets.
Faced with a potentially disappointing homeless strategy and a shortage of social housing, is it still possible to achieve our aim of ending homelessness by 2010?
The answer is yes, but only if there is the political will to take the necessary steps.
Firstly, the Department of Environment must develop a homeless strategy implementation plan with the service providers to address the weaknesses in the document launched today.
This plan must detail resources, responsibilities and timeframes for achieving the goals set out in the strategy. Focus Ireland remains committed to working in partnership with the department in order to achieve this.
Secondly, the Government must use Budget 2009 to significantly increase investment in social and supported housing.
Not only is there a compelling social argument for such investment - ending long-term homelessness by 2010 - but in light of present economic difficulties there is also a compelling economic case.
Such investment would help stimulate the economy and generate jobs and tax revenue.
Government funding for homeless services has increased significantly in recent years, as has the quality and range of services provided.
However the crucial piece of the jigsaw, access to housing, continues to elude those most in need. As always, housing is the key.
Joyce Loughnan is CEO of Focus Ireland, the housing and homeless charity. For more information see www.focusireland.ie