Unique report calls for homeless services to be easily available

Home

News

Local News

Written by Brenda Carney

Wednesday, 17 January 2007

Services for homeless people need to address the issues faced by people experiencing life on the street, while being easy to access, easily available and appropriate to the needs of homeless people.

That's according to a unique new report on services for homeless people, which was designed, researched and written by a team of people who have experienced homelessness. The 'HEART (Homeless Empowerment Action Research Team)' project report was set up to give a voice to homeless people and to describe their experiences with the services provided for them in Galway City.

The voluntary services looked at in the study are COPE, Galway Simon Community, Threshold and Cuan Mhuire Residential Addiction Centre and the statutory services surveyed include the HSE West, Galway City Council, Social Welfare Offices and the Citizens' Information Centre.

There was positive and negative feedback on every organisation included in the report but some stood out more than others.

In the voluntary services section, the majority of people found they were treated well with the exception of Cuan Mhuire Addiction Centre, which got a lot of negative responses. In the report, the centre is described as being "horrible", with "no compassion from staff". One person said, "I'd rather sleep out [on the streets] in Galway than to stay here. They don't want you if you have a psychiatric problem."

Reports on Galway Simon Community were positive and staff were found to be "very helpful", "reasonable" and "sound".

In the statutory services section, people found the long waiting times and lack of staff in the HSE frustrating. "We're entitled to a decent common respect and to be treated like human beings and not to be treated with contempt because of where we come from," said one user of the service.

Galway City Council also got some negative reports with a number of references made to the long waiting lists and amount of bureaucracy involved. But on the positive side, one user of the council's services gave it a glowing report. "When I explained my story from the first to the end, I found it very helpful, understanding and caring and their heart went out to me...so that felt really good for me because, for once in my life I got someone in the city council that understood where I was coming from and how I felt about the situation..."

This project was an opportunity to look at the experiences of homeless people and the services available to them, from their own perspective. In looking at their own experiences of services for homeless people, the HEART team found the need for empathy, respect and understanding became a central theme.

"While many who read this report will never experience homelessness or fully appreciate what it is like to be homeless, everybody should treat those that have with empathy, respect and understanding," said Patricia Kenny, spokesperson for the HEART team.

According to the research, there is a strong need for services to address the issues faced by people experiencing life on the street. Of equal importance however, is the fact that services need to be easy to access, easily available and appropriate to the needs of homeless people.

The attitude of staff was crucial for those using the services and according to Patricia Kenny, staff training should be a central element in the provision of services to people experiencing homelessness.

This study is a first step in evaluating services from the direct experience of people who are homeless. It is essential that people who have experienced homelessness continue to be part of the plan to improve services in Galway City.

"It is hoped that this project will provide an impetus for change in the area involving people who have experienced homelessness", said Patricia Kenny, "and encourage a more respectful attitude in those providing the services".

One person captured the essence of the report when he said: "In my experience in homelessness, I've met people who just want a break. The system should be looking to give a hand up, not a hand out."

Comments (0) »