Positive & Constructive Meeting with Minister Finneran on Homeless Plan

Issued : Wednesday 12 November, 2008

MakeRoom, the campaign alliance of Focus Ireland, the Simon Communities of Ireland, the Society of St Vincent de Paul and Threshold met with Minister of State for Housing Michael Finneran today in Leinster House. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the ongoing work within the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government on the development of the implementation plan for the government's new homeless strategy, The Way Home, launched in August 2008.

Speaking after the meeting MakeRoom spokesperson Joyce Loughnan said:

"Today's meeting was very positive and constructive. MakeRoom discussed with Minister Finneran how we thought the new homeless strategy could best be implemented. We stressed that we want to work positively with government to ensure that the homeless strategy makes a real difference to all those people experiencing homelessness.

"Our key priorities for the implementation plan include; clear timelines for delivery of specific actions with clear responsibility and accountability agreed; clear allocation of funding under each strategic aim; a commitment to monitor and evaluate the implementation of the strategy on an ongoing basis; inclusion of all statutory and voluntary sector providers in the development and review of the implementation plan; and opportunities for all statutory and voluntary sector providers to have meaningful input into the development of quality standards, good practice models and other such guidelines referred to throughout the strategy.

"The Minister outlined his commitment to ongoing dialogue and partnership in the design and roll out of the homeless strategy implementation plan, which we warmly welcome.

"MakeRoom firmly believes that through a real partnership, the statutory and voluntary sectors can achieve our shared goals. If government meets its own targets on social housing and provides dedicated funding for housing supports then the homeless strategy's ambitious targets could be achieved. Better coordination between the Department of Environment, the HSE and other statutory bodies will ensure that adequate funding for housing, health and other support costs is provided efficiently and effectively. While the recession has created real challenges for all of us, we must not allow this to become an excuse for failing to fund front line services." ENDS