Galway East TD Michael Kitt has welcomed the government’s commitment to end long-term homelessness by 2016 and added that adequate resources were essential to achieving the goal.
The Fianna Fáil deputy said “I am concerned that the government is underestimating how serious the homelessness crisis is. This issue is more complex than just counting the number of rough sleepers. While I very much welcome the establishment of an oversight committee the government also has to increase the focus on preventative measures. There is an urgent need for more housing units in our major cities and towns.
At a time when youth homelessness has increased, Deputy Kitt stated that it is “disappointing that only 2 ½ lines on youth homelessness appears in the Homelessness Policy Statement.
“The government’s policy statement is extremely important and I know it will be welcomed by the groups working in the sector. Homelessness is a major issue that has enormous impact on the people involved but also on society as a whole.
“The Simon Community says there are up to 50 new people turning to homeless services in Dublin every week. That gives a clear indication of the scale of the crisis and I hope the government is committed to driving the changes necessary to deliver the roadmap and end long-term homelessness.