Updated at 10.35pm
ENVIRONMENT MINISTER ALAN Kelly has announced a range of measures to combat homelessness in the capital and elsewhere in the country.
Some of ‘broad strokes’ of Kelly’s plan — like additional bed places for rough sleepers — were announced following last Thursday night’s ‘summit on homelessness’.
Further details were agreed upon at this morning’s weekly Cabinet meeting.
Amongst the new announcements, was the opening of a ‘Nite Café’ [sic] and the use of a NAMA hotel to provide accommodation for homeless families.
According to a press release from the Department of the Environment, the café facility will “provide a contact point for homeless people who do not want to be placed in emergency accommodation”.
It will provide food, rest area and showers. At full capacity, this facility will accommodate 50 people and will operate throughout the night, 7 days a week.
An initial service will commence for a few hours a night from next Monday – with full service to start from January.
It’s planned the NAMA hotel will be in use for homeless services by May of next year.
In his press release, Kelly recommitted himself to the Government’s stated aim of ending “the scourge of involuntary long term homelessness” by the end of 2016.
Last week’s ‘summit’ was convened in reaction to the death of Jonathan Corrie, in a doorway just metres from the gates of Leinster House, on Monday last.
Kelly said today that authorities in other cities were currently assessing the scale of homelessness within their areas, and were being asked to revert back to the Department this week if they needed any additional support.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
have your say