The Galway Simon Community has slammed the Government's new homeless strategy, saying it does not go far enough and that it's short on details including "implementation plans, funding responsibilities, time lines for delivery and monitoring responsibility."

Marlene O'Connor.

Galway Simon CEO, Marlene O'Connor said one designated department or section with responsibility for homeless services was needed to "go some way towards guaranteeing buy in from those departments and agencies which currently share responsibility".

"We welcome the realisation that moving people out of emergency accommodation is necessary but would ask, 'Where are people to move on to, given the cut backs in local authority housing provision? Where is the awareness that, when the majority of people move out of emergency accommodation, they will have support needs if they are not to become homeless again? Where is the commitment to funding the necessary support services?" she asked.

Ms O'Connor said the annual applications system currently in operation, made planning very difficult for service providers.

The Galway Simon Community has also been told that there will not be any additional funding this year or next for new or additional services. "In fact it will be very difficult to maintain even the present level of service with insufficient increases to cover increased costs and actual cut backs of monies already agreed at the beginning of the year," she explained.

She also criticised the Government's assertion that the economic downturn would not damage the poorest in society. "Where is the evidence of this in the strategy?" she asked.

The strategy was launched last week by Minister of State for Housing Michael Finneran.

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