12 CornerStone claims: 18 Two cheers for the new the DoEHLG responds housing guidelines 15 Health and social inclusion: 21 Care and case what the HSE is doing management The magazine of the Homeless Agency ISSUE 32 CornerStone OCTOBER 2007 7 How to end homelessness Solving the puzzle note from the editor In the last issue of CornerStone we highlighted figures in the 2006 census that overestimated the number of housing association tenants by more than 250%. Our suggested explanation for this was that the census questions were badly worded so about 30,000 households quite understandably said they ‘rented from a Voluntary Body’ CornerStone when they were actually private renters. Since the last issue was published, the full census housing statistics have been published and the EDITOR new data strongly supports this theory. Simon Brooke The DoEHLG takes this and other problems raised seriously, and you can ADVISORY GROUP Lisa Kelleher, Homeless Agency read Des Dowling’s response, on behalf of the department, on page 12. Eithne Fitzgerald, Independent Unfortunately the new figures bring with them new problems (see news Brian Harvey, Independent Alice O’Flynn, Health Service Executive item on page 6). The local authority rent figures in the census are about 40% PUBLISHER higher than the same figures provided by the Department of the Environment, The Homeless Agency, Parkgate Hall Heritage and Local Government! 6–9 Conyngham Road, Dublin 8 Telephone 01 703 6100, Fax 01 703 6170 So at least one of them must be wrong. My guess is that the fault lies with Email: [email protected] Web: www.homelessagency.ie the census, which relies on people’s self-assessment, rather than with the CONTRIBUTORS statistics gathered by the DoEHLG which are based on records held by local ■ Andrew Brownlee is national research and campaigns authorities. So if local authority tenants aren’t sure how much rent they pay, manager with the Simon Communities of Ireland ■ Batt O’Keeffe TD is Minister of State at the how do we know that private rented tenants are any better? Department of the Environment, Heritage and The truth is, you cannot rely on any of the census data on rents, or housing Local Government ■ Des Dowling is assistant secretary with responsibility associations, or the private rented sector. And, as Des Dowling reports, the for housing at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government census consistently underestimates the number of local authority homes. If we ■ Alice O’Flynn is national director of social inclusion, HSE know the census is wrong in all these areas, how can we have confidence in ■ Nick Sheward is director of development with Clúid Housing Association any of the other areas it reports on? ■ Elaine Butler is integrated services co-ordinator at the The census is held up by the Central Statistics Office as generating results Homeless Agency ■ Fran Cassidy is a writer and researcher that are ‘essential tools for effective policy, planning and decision making DESIGN purposes’. The trouble is, if the figures are wrong, it’s not much use is it? Identikit Design Consultants PRINTING Simon Brooke New Oceans Editor of CornerStone · Housing and Social Policy Consultant The views expressed in CornerStone do not necessarily [email protected] represent the views of the Homeless Agency, its management board, or consultative forum The Homeless Agency is a governmental people who are homeless, assisting them body launched in May 2001 which is to move rapidly to appropriate long term responsible for the planning, co-ordination housing and independence. A major task and delivery of quality services to people is the implementation of the third action who are homeless in the Dublin area. plan A Key to the Door covering the The staff team is advised by a consultative period 2007–2010. The Homeless forum, and reports to a board of Agency co-ordinates all homeless management comprising representatives services in the Dublin area; delivers from the statutory and voluntary sector. some direct services; provides training The agency brings together a range of and other supports; monitors and voluntary and statutory agencies that are evaluates the effectiveness of services; working in partnership to implement carries out research; and administers agreed plans on the delivery of services to funding to homeless services. feature article 7 How to end homelessness Solving the puzzle Andrew Brownlee writing on behalf of the Makeroom campaign, sets out what should have been in the programme for government ISSUE 32 contents OCTOBER 2007 11 12 15 2 HOMELESS AGENCY NEWS 12 CORNERSTONE CLAIMS: 18 TWO CHEERS FOR THE THE DEPARTMENT NEW GUIDELINES BT2 helps Focus Ireland; RESPONDS Partnership in prevention; Nick Sheward casts a critical eye Dublin Simon rough sleeper team; Des Dowling writing on behalf over Quality Housing for Focus Ireland and CIS team up; of the Department of the Sustainable Communities Homeless World Cup Environment, Heritage and Local Government, responds to 21 CARE AND CASE 5 NEWS some of the issues raised in the MANAGEMENT last issue of CornerStone Census erroneous update; Elaine Butler explains what these are, and outlines the …and more census woes; HEALTH AND SOCIAL 15 Homeless Agency’s role Apartments, inspections and INCLUSION: WHAT THE ethnic minorities; Low income HSE IS DOING home buyers in arrears 23 PORTRAIT OF A PROJECT Alice O’Flynn explains how the Crosscare Housing and Welfare HSE’s transformation aims to Information and Crosscare AN INTRODUCTION FROM ensure that everyone, including 11 Migration Project THE NEW MINISTER homeless people, will be able to access high quality mainstream Batt O’Keeffe TD, Minister of 26 CORNERSTONE health services State at the Department of the QUESTIONNAIRE Environment, Heritage and Local Bob Jordan, director of Threshold Government, introduces himself to CornerStone readers Homeless Agency Compiled by Lisa Kelleher communications and public relations officer at the Homeless Agency BT2 help Focus Ireland put NEWS homelessness in the picture linked up with online art The ArtDublin ’07 initiative shows gallery Art to Order to how a business can link with a charity BT2 launch the ArtDublin ’07 to help raise funds and public awareness Initiative, which saw the fashion store sell and understanding around key issues specially commissioned art pieces to help such as homelessness. During the 10 raise funds for the housing and homeless day ‘Home Exhibition’ people had the charity Focus Ireland. chance to buy an original piece of Profits of the sale of the art pieces artwork for just €350, knowing that went towards Focus Ireland’s Extension they were also contributing to the work and Outreach Centre, a service for young of Focus Ireland. people who are experiencing homelessness BT2 and Art to Order commissioned in Dublin. This service provides vital sixty up and coming artists to create support and practical facilities for young works for the exhibition, which were people aged between 16 and 25 years to showcased at BT2 on Grafton Street. The help them address their problems and find artworks varied in style and medium, with a route out of homelessness. participating artists using photography, The project encouraged people to talk textiles, glass and ceramics. ■ about the concept of ‘home’ by exploring this through art with the added aim of Pictured at the launch of the ArtDublin ’07 driving awareness and better understanding launch is Jason O’Connell, who described on the night his experience of being homeless, of the issues that are vital to preventing on behalf of Focus Ireland’s services. and addressing homelessness in Ireland. Dublin Simon hosts ‘Partnership in Prevention’ ublin City Tenancy Sustainment Service hosted a review day in the DMansion House on Friday June 2007 in the Mansion House entitled ‘Partnership in Prevention – an overview of the first year of the Tenancy Sustainment service’. Speakers at the review included Lord Mayor Councillor Vincent Jackson, Sandra Fox, manager Dublin City Pictured at the review day were service user Evelyn Gaynor, Lord Mayor Councillor Vincent Jackson, and Sandra Fox, manager of Dublin City Tenancy Sustainment Service. 2 OCTOBER 2007 · CORNERSTONE Homeless Agency Tenancy Sustainment Service, Dáithí (DCTS) is a Homeless Agency partnership of 12 professionals work with both those Downey, deputy director and head of initiative to deliver a dedicated service to moving from a homeless situation into a service delivery in the Homeless Agency tenants at risk of homelessness that works new home and those in existing tenancies and user of the Tenancy Sustainment to ensure that their tenancies are that may be at risk. The service offers service Evelyn Gaynor. sustained and homelessness is prevented. housing support with specialist In December 2006 Dublin Simon were The service is contracted from and interventions by co-ordinating with local awarded the contract by the Homeless delivered by Dublin Simon. community services and professionals. Agency to manage a new service aimed at The service works proactively with Early intervention and a multi-agency NEWS preventing homelessness in Dublin. The tenants in their own homes to ensure they approach have proven vital to sustaining Dublin City Tenancy Sustainment Service break the cycle of homelessness. A team those at risk in their own home. ■ Dublin Simon Rough Sleeper Team he Dublin Simon Rough Sleeper The Dublin Simon Rough Sleeper daytime and evening street work, self Team hosted an information event Team provides information and referrals to referrals, referrals from voluntary and Tin the Mansion House on June emergency accommodation, addiction statutory agencies and members of 21st 2007 to acknowledge the treatment options and specialist homeless the public. rebranding of the team from Dublin persons health services, a link to The Dublin Simon Rough Sleeper Simon Outreach to Dublin Simon mainstream and social welfare services, a Team can be contacted on 01 6778114 Rough Sleeper Team and also to link to food and clothing services, from 8am to 12.00 midnight Monday generate awareness about the work of advocacy and keyworking.