Leading Homeless and Housing Groups Join Forces to call for 10 key actions on homelessness to be included in the next Programme for Government

The organisations held a special event at Buswells Hotel (Tues Jan 7th, 2025) as the latest figures just issued last Friday show a record total of 15,199 people now homeless.

Last year the group wrote to the political parties involved in Government-formation talks, expressing deep concern at the absence of concrete proposals to tackle homelessness in their party manifestos, which reflecting neither the successes nor lessons from the work of the out-going Government. The key housing and homeless policies included in the new Programme for Government will have huge implications on preventing and reducing homelessness and creating exit pathways for individuals and families over the coming years. Given the huge number of people whose lives are harmed by forms of homelessness, the enormous cost of emergency measures and the prominence of the issue in the mind of voters, it is essential that the Programme includes credible policies and tangible goals.

Speaking at the event Focus Ireland Director of Advocacy Mike Allen said: “Homelessness has risen by 47% since the previous General Election in 2020 and while all political parties constantly refer to homelessness as a ‘priority’, they seem to be bringing few concrete and evidence-based ideas to the table.”

He continued: “Solving homelessness is a complex issue requiring persistent Government attentiveness and will require shared problem solving to work towards the EU goal of ending homelessness by 2030 which Ireland has committed to achieving.  We believe that homelessness is solvable and that a collaborative approach which brings together organisations on the frontline along with local authorities and state agencies, with strong Cabinet support, is the best approach to solving it.”

Nick Henderson CEO, Irish Refugee Council: “We are delighted to support these 10 recommendations which need to be analysed and implemented. It’s hard to overstate the vulnerability of people coming to this country for those who are told there is no accommodation for them. Many are left on their own.”

Ann-Marie O’Reilly,  Threshold National Advocacy Manager: “The struggle is becoming increasingly different for renters. For years we have had a lack of vision and structure in the rental sector. We need to decide if this sector is growing and who will provide these homes. There is a need for small and middle sized landlords to provide housing. There also must be security for renters.”

Signatories:

COPE Galway, Crosscare, Depaul Ireland, Focus Ireland, Irish Refugee Council, Mercy Law Recourse Centre, Novas, Respond, Simon Communities of Ireland and Threshold.

About The Irish Homeless Policy Group 

The Irish Homeless Policy Group is made up of several organisations which work in the sphere of housing and homelessness. Our constituent members include organisations providing direct housing supports, policy work, advocacy, and legal interventions for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Our organisations work to end homelessness every day and have come together to set out several proposals which we believe the next Government should take if it is serious about ending homelessness.

10 key actions on homelessness for new Government 

1. Develop collaborative structures to end homelessness

Solving homelessness is a complex issue requiring persistent Government attentiveness and will require shared problem solving. The next Government should agree on new collaborative structures, with Cabinet support, for developing and implementing a new homelessness strategy with local authorities, relevant State bodies and organisations at the front-line.

2. Build Enough Homes

Ensure that over 55,000 homes are constructed each year to meet housing need across Irish society, including at least 15,000 new social homes to tackle the housing crisis and address homelessness. Work towards the goal of 20% of housing being social and cost rental, in line with the recommendations of the Housing Commission Report, to meet both the deficit and future need. Build the right kinds of homes such as one-bed and two-bed homes for smaller households, and larger homes for families stuck in homelessness, Traveller families, and families with status trapped in Direct Provision for years.

3. End Long-Term Homelessness by 2030

Set the goal of making sure no one is homeless for longer than 6 months by the end of the next Government term (2030), by dedicating 10% of new social housing supply to already long-term homeless households. Use the Housing Commission report as a key driver and policy roadmap to help achieve this ambitious goal.

4. Prioritise Homeless Prevention Measures

Prioritise and adequately resource a comprehensive homeless prevention plan and early intervention measures to prevent homelessness from occurring and reoccurring.

5. Ensure that nobody has to sleep rough, regardless of legal status

Ensure that there are sufficient emergency beds so that no one ever has to rough sleep. In particular, ensure that everyone who seeks international protection in Ireland is provided with suitable accommodation while their claim is being assessed. Guarantee greater coordination between departments, agencies, and local government so that every person in Ireland is guaranteed decent shelter, regardless of nationality, gender, or legal status.

6. Develop strategy for Private Rental Sector

Devise and implement a strategy for the private rental sector, on foot of the previous Government’s Private Rental Sector Review, setting out a clear vision for the sector and the role it will play in the wider housing landscape in the long-term. A well-rounded strategy, based on good-quality data, will ensure a balanced, fair and sustainable rental market that benefits all.

7. Fully implement the Youth Homelessness Strategy

Implement the current National Youth Homelessness Strategy (2023-25) and develop a new ambitious successor strategy from 2026 to eliminate youth homelessness. 

8. Introduce range of measures to tackle issues facing homeless families

Commit to enacting the Homeless Families Bill (2017) which would ensure that local authorities place the best interests of the child at the centre of decision-making when supporting homeless families. Adopt a Housing First for Families approach to address the housing and support needs of families with more complex needs.

9. Improve Mental Health services for people experiencing homelessness

Improve mental health services for people experiencing homelessness – with more focus on harm-reduction measures and increased HSE funding for mental health, drug and alcohol interventions.

10. Improve the transparency of access to homeless services

Improve the transparency of access to emergency accommodation and homeless services, including the introduction of a new appeals system that would provide written reasons for any refusals to access emergency accommodation and social housing.  Ensure that all local authority staff receive updated training to provide greater awareness of housing law.