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Today is World Homeless Day and also the announcement of Budget 2018. We urge government to ensure the most vulnerable people in society are protected in this budget.
We advocate for sustainable pathways from homeless for families and single people through holistic supports that address their housing and health needs.

We urge greater investment in Housing First programmes nationally, particularly outside of Dublin.

We urge increased spending on the health needs of homeless people. The health budget for homeless people is less now than it was in 2008, despite the unprecedented rise in homelessness since then. This anomaly needs to be redressed. More investment in Dual Diagnosis of Mental Health and Addiction is needed.

The proportion of 18 to 21 year olds accessing Novas services increased by 100% from 2015 to 2016. Adults under the age of 25 years comprise 28% of all adults accessing our services in 2016. The significant increase in due in part to the reduced social welfare payment provided to this group. We urge that this cut is reversed. It is impossible for young adults to live independently on reduced payments, forcing many into the cycle of homelessness.

Finally we urge greater spending on social housing, a tax on vacant properties, vacant housing officers to be employed in all local authorities to identify and utilise vacant properties and vacant site levies in areas of highest demand.

Without long-term secure homes, we cannot begin to fix the homeless and housing crisis.