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Dealing With Homelessness - 2003 Campaign
"Director of Homeless Agency says changes in Rent Allowance Scheme will make more people homeless"
Homelessness Campaign
28th November 2003
PRESS RELEASE
Speaking on the final day of the Merchants Quay Ireland "Dealing with Homelessness" campaign Mary Higgins, Director of the Homeless Agency said "Homelessness is preventable and solvable. The solution involves working in partnership to provide the necessary housing and support services. To prevent homelessness adequate safety nets are needed. It is disappointing to see one of these safety nets, the Rent Allowance Scheme being eroded and I fear that this will lead to many more people becoming homeless".
Families, Children and Young people
Homelessness Campaign
27th November 2003
PRESS RELEASE
The Merchants Quay Ireland Dealing with Homelessness campaign today focuses on Families, Children and Young people.
More than 1,000 children are homeless with their parents in Dublin according to the Governments own figures. For children being homeless often means constant moves from one emergency accommodation unit to another with consequent damage to their social and educational development and huge pressure on the whole family. Research conducted by Focus Ireland in 1999 found that children of homeless families had histories of incomplete vaccinations, poor nutrition, retarded weight and height growth, and they suffered from emotional and mental distress. The same report also found that 25 per cent of adult homeless people had experienced homelessness as children.
"... substance abuse is often a consequence of homelessness..."
Homelessness Campaign
26th November 2003
PRESS RELEASE
The Merchants Quay Ireland "Dealing with Homelessness" campaign today focuses on the relationship between homelessness and drug and alcohol use.
The incidence of drug taking among homeless people in Dublin is high with surveys showing figures for drug dependency ranging from 25% to 45%. There is also evidence to suggest that between 29% and 50% of people who are homeless are drinking above safe/recommended levels.
"Homelessness seriously damages your health"
Homelessness Campaign
25th November 2003
PRESS RELEASE
The Merchants Quay Ireland "Dealing with Homelessness" campaign today focuses on the health of homeless people.
Homelessness can seriously damage your health said Tony Geoghegan, Director of MQI, "Homeless people die younger. The average age of death of those recoded as homeless on corners reports in the UK varies between 42 and 53 years. In Dublin 66% of homeless people have at least one physical or psychiatric problem, yet we have found that between 39% and 47% of homeless people attending our services do not have a medical card".
"Homelessness shouldn't be a life sentence" - Geoghegan
Homelessness Campaign
24th November 2003
PRESS RELEASE
Merchants Quay Ireland has launched their Dealing with Homelessness campaign by focusing on the plight of long term homeless people.
The latest Assessment of Homelessness produced by the ESRI for the Homeless Agency shows that 1,678 persons (including more than 400 children) in Dublin alone have been homeless for more than one year and 723 have been homeless for more than 3 years.
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