Combating Poverty and Social Combating Poverty and Social ExclusionExclusion

Homelessness - Homelessness - A Targeted ApproachA Targeted Approach

Olmedo, Sardinia, 9th March 2011

Damien O’Mahony

Cork City Council

Low educational attainmentLone parentsUnemploymentFamily BreakdownLoss of partner/spouse/parent/sAddictionsDisability – physical and mental

Access to education compromisedAccess to employment comprimisedSocial Housing – pool of disadvantage -

concentrations may cause difficultiesPoor health – mortality rate higher for cancer,

heart disease, mental illnessLess participation through marginalisation –

voting; volunteering; church attendance (indication of diminished social capital)

Paths to HomelessnessPaths to Homelessness Poverty and lack of housing options Mental ill health Addiction Weak family supports Experience of institutional care, Eviction Relationship breakdown But protective factors must be mentioned i.e. significant

positive relationship; engagement in work or training, even where the underlying causes and risk factors are present

Homeless community not homogenous but common characteristics exist

High levels of mental ill health, Psychological, behavioural and personality disorders Intellectual and learning difficulties and addiction

problems. Across the developed world, the majority of homeless

people are single men. Homelessness is not a random process and as such allows

for the development of targeted interventions to address homelessness and to prevent it from occurring in the first place.

The Celtic TigerReduced poverty but unemployment now

up to 13.7% (almost 20% in 1980s)Relative poverty (on or below 60% of

national income EU definition)Consistent poverty (with added indicators

of disadvantage – e.g. lone parent; unemployed; disabled)–

11% (inc. working poor)

Breakout SessionsBreakout Sessions

Systems - LatviaValue for Money - GreeceIntegration - RomaniaPrevention - Spain

MethodologyMethodology

Record findingsNominate spokespersonGeneral applicationNot confined by individual funding

constraints

Homeless Action Planning in Homeless Action Planning in CorkCork

Homeless Forum established 1991Plans founded on detailed consultation

process with stakeholders – local government; health services; police; voluntary agencies

Achievements to dateAchievements to date

Elimination of need to sleep roughAccommodation standards raisedProvision of transitional housingMulti-disiplinary Teams establishedGateway Project (wet shelter)Cork Foyer

Achievements to date, contd.Achievements to date, contd.Strong working partnerships between the

key local stakeholders The development of discharge protocols for

those at risk of homelessness leaving psychiatric or acute hospitals.

Critical local interventions stimulated via local homeless action plans.

The Way Home 2008-2013 The Way Home 2008-2013 Strategic AimsStrategic Aims

Preventing HomelessnessEliminate Need to Sleep RoughEliminate Long Term Homelessness Meet Long Term Housing Needs Ensure Effective Services for Homeless

People Better Coordinated Funding arrangements

A New Focus – More DetailA New Focus – More Detail The development of longer term accommodation options

through the provision of additional social housing, greater use of the private sector and the development of long term supported accommodation with on site specialist care.

The improvement of the coordination of funding between the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the Department of Health so that capital and revenue funding works in tandem, with the development of more formal funding mechanisms, more transparent selection of projects and improved monitoring across the country.

A New Focus – More DetailA New Focus – More Detail

The development of a case management approach to addressing the needs of homeless people, based on key workers linking to core services and specialist health services which can be accessed, depending on individual needs.

The development of preventative strategies focused on at risk groups in addition to individuals leaving prison, acute hospitals and psychiatric hospitals.

Eliminate Long Term Eliminate Long Term HHomelessnessomelessness

By end 2011 no one should be in emergency accommodation longer than six months.

Achieved by the adequate supply of long term housing in each local area to address current and projected needs

Adequate community support services for households vulnerable to homelessness

Accessible mental health and addiction services Effective interventions by homeless services.

Meeting long term housing needsMeeting long term housing needs Adequate supply of housing, esp. for single persons Greater utilisation of existing housing stock and the

provision of additional units by local authorities Greater use of the private and voluntary and co-

operative housing sectors. Settlement services and tenancy sustainment for

formerly homeless people necessary in some cases.

Ensure effective services for homeless Ensure effective services for homeless peoplepeople

Services well organised, co-ordinated and integrated

focused on moving them out of homelessness as quickly as possible, into long term sustainable housing.

a national quality standards framework for homeless services, including arrangements for monitoring compliance.

Ensure effective services for Ensure effective services for homeless peoplehomeless people

Services include: street outreach temporary accommodation Settlement post settlement tenancy sustainment and advice information and day centres specialised homeless services.

Health servicesHealth services

Vital component of services for homeless people. roll-out of primary care teams and primary and

social care networks. Homeless people will access primary care through

these new teams and networks not intended that a separate and parallel health

system will exist for homeless people.

Prevention StrategiesPrevention StrategiesAdult OffendersYoung OffendersMental Health Residential FacilitiesAcute HospitalsYoung Persons Leaving CareEducation and Homeless PersonsMonitoring

Prevention Strategies Prevention Strategies

Intervention by wider social welfare agencies including the establishment of indicators that act as an early warning system and ensure that supports are offered while the potentially homeless individual remains in the family home.

New immigrants

Victims of Domestic Violence

Managing ChangeManaging Change Practices long established with wide public

support Paradigm shift required in approach Significant change to structures on the part of

service providers both financial and human resource

Change from reactive to proactive attitude on the part of commissioning agents (i.e. state bodies who fund the service)

Inclusion and consultation

Thank You