HOMELESSNESS RARELY HAS one single cause. Its primary causes relate to poverty, inequality and lack of affordable housing, often coupled with systems failures and individual circumstance. Generally it’s a combination of factors – a lack of security, a lack of belonging, and often about being cold, sick and isolated. Amongst this terrible uncertainty, what is absolutely certain is that once people become homeless the impact on their health and wellbeing is devastating.
The numbers in emergency accommodation continue to grow and the tragic deaths which happened in recent times highlight the extent of the crisis and the vulnerability of people who are homeless. In December, the Simon Communities reported a 41% increase in the numbers of individuals and families around the country turning to our services for help over a two year period.
At the end of 2014 there were almost 3,000 people in emergency accommodation, including more than 850 children; 36% of those were outside the capital. There was 20% increase in the number of people sleeping rough in Dublin (168 people) in November 2014 which is the highest since 2007. Unfortunately, Dublin is the only area where an official rough sleeper count takes place, making it difficult to get a countrywide picture of homelessness.
Rural homelessness tends to be more ‘hidden’
The Simon Communities Review of Rural Homelessness ‘Left Out in the Cold’ found there is often a misperception that homelessness doesn’t exist in rural communities. Homelessness and housing insecurity are more acute and visible in our cities but our teams are working at capacity all around the country – in urban and rural areas.
In close-knit rural communities people tend to know one another and we found this can act as a double-edged sword. It acts as a protective factor against homelessness with immediate community support being offered when housing difficulties are experienced for some. However, fear of stigma and shame in such communities can prevent people from seeking assistance and their plight goes unknown until a crisis hits.
As a result, rural homelessness tends to be more ‘hidden’ where people may not be sleeping rough, instead they are staying with family and friends or they are living in overcrowded and unfit accommodation. The lack of, and distance from, services, supports and social activities further exacerbate this problem.
It’s time to end, rather than simply manage, homelessness
Limited access to homeless and support services is increasing the risk of homelessness in rural areas and is also preventing people from moving out of homelessness. Responses must be nationally driven but locally resourced and delivered to ensure people can remain in their communities where they have family and support networks, even when they run into housing and income difficulties. These are often the times this is most important.
The solution to homelessness is providing appropriate housing with support tailored to each person’s needs, known as a ‘housing first’ approach. In the past it was common to tackle homelessness using the ‘staircase model’ where people had to achieve a number of goals (eg, becoming drug/alcohol free) over a period of time to become ‘housing ready’. This approach resulted in managing rather than ending homelessness. It is lengthy, can contribute to long-term homelessness, and tie-up much needed emergency accommodation.
A housing first or housing-led approach supports people to move out of homelessness as quickly as possible and into permanent housing with tailored support services. This is the approach Government has committed to using to end long-term homelessness by 2016 and it really works. The Simon Communities are doing everything possible to address the homeless crisis that faces us. We are opening up new projects, sometimes with little or no funding from government, and making proposals and developing new ways of providing housing with support for people who are homeless.
People can and do leave homelessness behind for good
It’s heartening to see progress being made by Minister Alan Kelly and his Department, especially towards the end of 2014 in responding so proactively with the Homeless Summit and the 20 Point Action Plan in response to the homelessness emergency – and we support recent commitments and developments to try to ensure that no one is sleeping on our streets at night.
Homelessness is the most acute form of housing need and must be prioritised. It is essential that the Government does not lose sight of the ultimate goal which is to ensure that people who are homeless have access to long-term homes with the right support. The biggest challenge right now is access to appropriate housing and, unless urgently addressed, this will result in the Government failing to achieve their 2016 target.
Greater numbers of people must not end up trapped long-term in emergency accommodation; the emergency accommodation measures announced in the Action Plan must only be used in the short-term. These emergency beds must be replaced by an offer of housing and not a return to the streets.
We also need to prevent more people from becoming homeless, especially those currently losing their rented homes due to inadequate rent supplement payments. Rent supplement levels must be increased as a matter of urgency and reform of the private rented sector is urgently required to ensure greater rent certainty for tenants.
We know that people can and do leave homelessness behind for good, they just need the right housing and the right support.
Niamh Randall is Head of Policy and Communications for the Simon Communities in Ireland @SimonCommunity / @NiamhRandall
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