ALONE welcome housing plan as a “step in the right direction”

20th May 2014 ALONE, the charity that supports older people in need, has today welcomed the newly released housing plan from Minister Jan O’Sullivan. The plan aims to eliminate homelessness by 2016 through a combination of 80 different actions in an attempt to combat the housing crisis. 

Sean Moynihan, CEO of ALONE said of the plan, “On a first reading, we welcome the announcement that boarded-up Alonehouses around the country will be released to charities like ALONE, but as always, the devil will be in detail. For the last month we have been campaigning for boarded up houses to be released to suitable charities for the purposes of being refurbished and allocated to a homeless person. In ALONE have the necessary skills and experience as well as a proven track record in providing low cost, high quality supportive housing for the most vulnerable people in our communities. Working with quality approved organisations like ALONE the government has an opportunity to ensure that a sustainable infrastructure of supportive housing is developed in Ireland.”

Moynihan continued, “It’s a scandal that it had to reach this point before the government took notice. Today’s newly announced housing plan is a step in the right direction but it remains to be seen whether the government will follow through on their promises. Since 2010 there has been a €104 million reduction in CAS funding, the announcement of €45 million CAS funding still leaves us far short of what is needed”.

ALONE can be contacted on (01) 679 1032 for those who have concerns about their own wellbeing, or the wellbeing of a vulnerable older person in the community or visit www.alone.ie

 

ENDS

 

About ALONE:

Established in 1977, ALONE provides vital supports to the one in ten older people who are in need. The charity provides a volunteer befriending service, campaigning services, a community response service and provides 100 age-friendly homes to older people in need. ALONE receives no state funding for their day to day activities, it is through the donations from members of the public that the organisation can carry out its essential activities.