Calls have been made for the Housing First initiative to be extended to Clare, to provide accommodation for those who have been forced into sleeping rough.
It comes as it’s emerged that a homeless person was sleeping outside the constituency office of the county’s Fianna Fáil TD, Timmy Dooley for a number of nights last week.
The latest Department of Housing figures show 64 homeless adults in Clare were being housed in emergency accommodation at the beginning of the year.
But there’s also a small undefined number in the county who, for a variety of reasons, have not accessed homeless services provided by the local authority and voluntary groups, and are sleeping rough on our streets.
It’s now emerged that one person slept outside the constituency office of Clare’s Fianna Fáil TD, Timmy Dooley in Ennis for a number of nights last week, after a photo appeared in local publication The Clare Echo.
Deputy Dooley believes the scourge of homelessness can be difficult to deal with and he says a strategy needs to be rolled out nationally, that allows for suitable accommodation and other services to be provided to rough sleepers.
The Government’s Housing First Initiative targets those who have spent years sleeping rough, who may be struggling with mental health or addiction issues.
The strategy provides housing to those affected and brings supports in around them, but so far it has only focussed on the more urban areas and cities.
Midwest Simon’s Housing Support Team Leader, Tracey Reddy says it has proven a success, and she believes it should be rolled out in rural areas including Clare.
