HOUSING MINISTER JAN O’Sullivan will brief ministers today on her proposals to tackle homelessness.

The Implementation Plan on the State’s Response to Homelessness is set to start using vacant state property such as former Garda stations to house homeless families.

The Simon Community has urged for full Cabinet support when it is discussed later, stating that homelessness, especially in Dublin, is at crisis levels.

National Spokesperson for the Simon Communities, Niamh Randall said that more and more people are turning to the Simon Communities across the country for support.

Currently, there are 90,000 people on the social housing waiting lists, she said, saying that the rapid increase in rents around the country as well as the decreasing numbers of properties available to rent is putting the housing situation into freefall.

“People on low incomes are effectively being priced out of the market. It is the responsibility of the Government to ensure people in need have access to housing so they do not become homeless in the first place and so they can move out of homelessness, when it does happen, as quickly as possible,” said Randell.

The Simon Community said that they have worked closely with Minister O’Sullivan on the issue, stating:

There is no doubting her commitment to this issue but this is something that needs the support of all of the Cabinet.The crucial next step is for the whole of Government to back the minister’s work and ensure her department has the essential resources to carry out this plan.

The critical Government Departments are the Departments of the Environment; of Social Protection and of Health (HSE) but the Department of Finance and Department of Public Expenditure and Reform must also row in behind this plan if it is to be a success.

The homelessness agency said there are over 5000 people and families currently homeless or at risk of homelessness.

They are also asking for the Social Housing strategy to be fast tracked in light of the current high numbers of people in housing crisis.

“It is also essential that there are resources attached to this plan to ensure that it can deliver the much needed units urgently. Ring fencing of a portion of all social housing units for people moving out of homelessness is a must,” said Randell.

Read: Housing shortage could see “tsunami of homeless” in Ireland>

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