10 Actions On Homelessness to New Government

Time for Action on Homelessness
The Irish Homeless Policy Group (IHPG)

The Irish Homeless Policy Group, made up of organisations working at the frontline of the housing and homelessness crisis, have come together to outline 10 key actions on homelessness they are calling on the next government to include in the Programme for Government the parties are currently negotiating.

The group recently launched the actions at an event where they highlighted the urgency of the crisis, with the latest figures showing a record 15,199 people experiencing homelessness.

Last year, the group wrote to political parties involved in Government-formation talks, raising concerns about the absence of concrete proposals to tackle homelessness in their manifestos. They emphasised that the policies in the new Programme for Government will have significant implications for reducing homelessness and creating pathways out of it for individuals and families.

The 10 key actions proposed are:

1. Developing collaborative structures to end homelessness.
2. Building 55,000 homes annually, including 15,000 social homes.
3. Ending long-term homelessness by 2030.
4. Prioritising prevention and early intervention measures.
5. Guaranteeing emergency shelter for all, regardless of legal status.
6. Implementing a comprehensive strategy for the private rental sector.
7. Fully implementing and expanding the Youth Homelessness Strategy.
8. Addressing family homelessness with child-centred policies.
9. Improving mental health and addiction services.
10. Enhancing transparency and accountability in access to services.

, Read 10 Actions Here