3 SECTION 1 Introduction 1.1 Who are the Simon Communities? The Simon Communities throughout Ireland provide care, accommodation and support for people experiencing homelessness and those at risk. Together, with people who are homeless, Simon seeks to tackle the root causes, promote innovative responses and urge the government to fulfil their commitments. Simon delivers support and service to between 4,500 and 5,000 individuals and families who experience – or are at risk of – homelessness on an annual basis. The Simon Communities of Ireland is an affiliation of local Communities in Cork, Dublin, Dundalk, Galway, the Midlands, the Mid West, the North West and the South East. 1.2 The background to the research There is a lack of definitive information about the exact number of people who are homeless and the nature of the homelessness at any one point in Ireland. There is also a lack of definitive information on the physical and mental health needs (inclusive of problematic drug and alcohol use) of people who are homeless and particularly amongst older people who are homeless, or formerly homeless. In an effort to address this deficit the Simon Communities of Ireland made a funding application to the Age and Opportunity Get Vocal Programme to undertake research looking at this issue. This application was ultimately successful and following a competitive tendering process Dr Kathy Walsh was appointed to undertake this research. The discrepancy between the Housing Need Assessment figures and the ‘Counted In1’ figures and experiences of other bodies and organisations that are seeing a growing demand for services can be seen to stem back to the way homelessness is defined. Housing Need Assessment figures exclude certain groups of people (e.g. those not on the local authority housing lists, people using emergency accommodation, transitional accommodation, residential supported units, etc.). It is also the case that people who are homeless move from place to place or indeed move in and out of homelessness, making it difficult to get an accurate point in time count of the total homeless population.2 1.3 The research aim and objectives The overall aim of this study was to influence policy and practice responses to the needs of older people who are homeless as they age and are faced with the issues of serious ill health, dying and death. The project objectives were to: a. Identify a solid evidence base for campaigning and advocacy work at a local, regional and national level for better policy and practice responses to the needs of older people who are 1 The ‘Counted In’ survey is a survey of homeless services users. Its purpose to monitor the extent of homelessness and to identify the needs of people who are currently using homeless services. It includes all those (including those not on the local authority housing lists and people in transitional housing, residential supported units etc.) using homeless services a particular time in a particular place. 2 http://www.focusireland.ie/index.php/press-release-archive/2009/210-17th-august-2009housing-needs-assessment- underestimates-homelessness
Homelessness, Ageing and Dying
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