2014-04-22 - Socio Economic Review 2014 - Full text and cover - FINAL

the Homelessness Oversight Group (2013) suggests that there has been little
improvement in the numbers of people experiencing long term homelessness.
In addressing homelessness, policy needs to focus on both the structural and
individualistic causes. Decreases in funding for homeless services places severe
pressure on services dealing with the many complexities of this issue at a time when
service providers are reporting a significant increase in demand. The need to support
service delivery in regard to preventative strategies is clear, however it is also
important to note that people who experience homelessness require ongoing
support after being housed to ensure the sustainability of the tenancy. It is therefore
imperative that the Government make available an adequate level of funding for
organisations providing such supports.
Another issue associated with homelessness relates to gaining an accurate measure
of the numbers of people experiencing this difficulty. Clearly complications arise
due to the complexity of matters surrounding homelessness and the level to which,
by its very nature, is a hidden problem. There has traditionally been a gap between
the administrative data (local authority Needs Assessment) held and the numbers
of people accessing homeless services. There have, however, been major welcome
developments in regard to the collection and collation of data in regard to
homelessness, with the introduction and rollout of PASS [Pathway Accommodation
and Support System]. Social Justice Ireland believes that it is important that resources
continue to be put in place to ensure that comparable accurate data in regard to
persons experiencing homelessness is available. Accurate data will allow for timelier
and more appropriate responses to homelessness.
In February 2013 Government published a Homelessness Policy Statement which
commits it to prioritising the provision of long-term housing as early as possible,
rather than putting homeless people through a process of short and medium-term
housing ’steps’, This would amount to a housing led approach, ultimately achieving
the goal of ending long-term homelessness and the incidence of rough sleeping by
2016. The Homelessness Oversight Group (2013) indicate that this high level goal is
attainable by 2016 if certain recommendations are in place. Among these are; The
need to establish a co-ordinating body to oversee that actions are put in place to
achieve the 2016 target; the need for broader policy in relation to social housing to
fully integrate the 2016 objective; the development of a structured plan in order to
assist in the move from a shelter led approach to a sustainable housing led response
coupled with more preventative measures in regard to homelessness; also the social
housing leasing scheme should be made more efficient, along with a requirement
to ensure that AHBs, Local Authorities and NAMA identify a certain proportion of
housing for homeless people; as well as the development of lending products by the
Housing Finance Agency which would support the provision of housing for the
homeless.
7. Housing and Accommodation 159