Madam, – Focus Ireland warmly welcomes the attention drawn to the problem of homelessness in your Editorial (August 19th). We strongly endorse your view that the Department of Environment “should review the methodology used in preparing its housing needs assessment”.
This is needed not only to gain a more accurate measure of homelessness nationally but also of the total numbers who require social housing. We understand that the Minister and the department are working in this direction.
You correctly highlight the increased risk of homelessness arising from people falling behind in rent and mortgage payments.
In the case of rent, these problems have become more severe due to three separate changes in the payment system in the past 12 months which, in some cases, have doubled the contribution people must pay towards their rents. Further cuts in rent supplement or in welfare payments will increase the risk of homelessness.
Finally, it is useful to point out that the measure of homelessness which better reflects the true scale of the problem – the “Counted In” survey (of people experiencing homelessness) – is fully endorsed by the Department of the Environment, which is its main sponsor.
The department supported the extension of this approach to the cities of Galway, Limerick and Cork last year, and we trust this approach will underpin the assessment of the Government’s continued commitment to end long-term homelessness by the end of 2010. – Yours, etc,