Social Inclusion

Homelessness - An Integrated Strategy

The government report entitled Homelessness - An Integrated Strategy was published in May of 2000. It recognised that homelessness is caused by a complex range of social and economic factors. It also acknowledged that the needs of those homeless are too complex and diverse to be met by any one agency in isolation. Therefore, the strategy involves the development of a many faceted approach to the problem of homelessness in each county, with the local authorities and health boards sharing responsibilities.

A key proposal was that local authorities would be responsible for the provision of accommodation for homeless people, including emergency hostel accommodation; while Heath Boards would  be responsible for agreed in-house care staff costs and health needs.

The Integrated Strategy in Cork County

Each region represented by Cork County Council's Divisional Services adopted an integrated strategy on homelessness, following the publication of the government report.

North Cork

Homeless Forum - an Integrated Strategy for North Cork was developed with the support of the Northern Division of Cork County Council, the Southern Health Board and several representatives of the voluntary sector. This strategy has six key objectives:

1. To establish services for the homeless in North Cork.
2. To provide varied accommodation to meet the needs of the homeless.
3. To provide appropriate health and welfare services to meet the needs of the homeless.
4. To develop support services to re-integrate homeless people into the community.
5. To develop preventative strategies to break the cycle of homelessness.
6. To implement, monitor and review, through the Homeless Forum, the delivery of the objectives of the action plan.

South Cork (Rural and Hinterland)

A Homeless Forum was set up for Cork City and South Cork, in order to draw up an action plan to meet the needs of the homeless in these areas. South Cork continues to co-fund the Homeless Forum and to give financial assistance to the voluntary sector to meet the needs of the homeless.

West Cork

The West Cork Homeless Forum meets regularly. In 2003, the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government granted approval for funding of dedicated beds to alleviated homelessness in West Cork.