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The recently launched Irish government’s strategy on homelessness, ‘The Way Home’ has attracted criticism for being ‘too aspirational’ and too vague about priorities, targets, resourcing and responsibilities.

The plan which was unveiled on the 21st of August, and addresses adult homelessness in Ireland 2008-2013, has disappointed many working in the homeless sector for not setting out a detailed implementation plan or budget.

While it does contain very welcome elements such as setting the target for ending long-term homelessness by 2010, and placing a statutory obligation on local authorities to develop homeless action plans, it has been criticised for several serious gaps in its proposals.  Amongst these criticisms, there was concern that the strategy makes no mention of the National Economic and Social Council recommendation that 73,000 social housing units be built between 2004 and 2012.  Focus Ireland estimates that by the end of 2009, the Irish government will be 25,000 units (40%) short of its social and affordable targets.

Click here to read / view: The Way Home: A Strategy to Address Adult Homelessness in Ireland 2008-2013

Source: FEANTSA Newsletter August 2008

FEANTSA (Fédération Européenne d'Associations Nationales Travaillant avec les Sans-Abri) or European Federation of National Organisations working with the Homeless, was established in 1989 as a European non-governmental organisation to prevent and alleviate the poverty and social exclusion of people threatened by or living in homelessness.
 
FEANTSA currently has 100 member organisations, working in close to 30 European countries, including 25 EU Member States.  FEANTSA's members are national or regional umbrella organisations of service providers that support homeless people with a wide range of services. CHNI is currently a member of FEANTSA
 

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