Which Way Home? 37 Research Findings and Simon Communities Recommendations This study reinforces the message of the efficacy of housing led approaches once the core elements of harm reduction, the separation of housing and support and the provision of intensive, open ended support are available. There are a number of key challenges and barriers identified including how to phase the shift away from emergency provision towards investing in housing led options given current demand for emergency accommodation and the lack of affordable and adequate housing for move on. In addition, the challenge for Communities in relation to adapting existing buildings due to financial constraints, physical layouts, ownership etc. Based on the research findings the Simon Communities in Ireland make a number of core recommendations while some are internal to the Simon Communities in Ireland some are more applicable to the wider political, policy and service environment. 1. Resources One of the findings of this research is that adopting a housing led approach in the context of cut backs may mean there are risks that housing led approaches become diluted and do not offer the depth and range of services necessary for people who are homeless to meet their housing and support needs. In addition, there is the danger the effectiveness of such approaches could be questioned when in fact the issues in fact lie with the resources that underpin the addressing of homelessness at present in Ireland as opposed to the overall approach. We Recommend • Government makes clear commitments regarding funding across all key departments with responsibility for addressing homelessness until 2016. This was identified in the first report of the Homeless Oversight Group. This will require more than holding funding at 2013 levels to meet growing demand. • Government reappraises the upfront investment required to generate the flow of accommodation that along with adequate support would enable people who have been homeless to take up sustainable housing options. 2. Adequate and Affordable Housing Supply The supply of adequate, affordable housing remains the key challenge in adopting a housing led approach ‘…the implications of the limited supply of housing in taking forwards a housing led approach into the future are highly significant’ (p38) We recommend • The recommencement of private and social housing construction on a realistic scale to meet growing demand. There must be ring-fencing within any such schemes for people moving out of homelessness. • The development of mechanisms to improve access to finance for Approved Housing Bodies e.g. review and revision of the Capital Advanced Leasing Scheme (CALF) to make it more financially viable, removal of barriers to accessing finance through the Housing Finance Agency and the protection of the Capital Assistance Scheme for special needs groups including people who are homeless. The Housing Policy Statement (2011) recognised that the not for profit housing sector has a significant role to play in social housing supply. • The delivery by NAMA on their much promised commitments in relation to social housing.
Which Way Home?
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