KILDARE: Homeless children should be prioritised
"This is an emergency"
Legislation should be enacted to ensure that the best interests of children are prioritised when decisions are made about homeless services.
Kildare County Council is to urges the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to ensure this happens.
This follows a call by Cllr Aidan Farrelly at a KCC meeting. He said there are 3,500 children in temporary accommodation.
“This is an emergency,” he said, adding that if the best interests of children are not part of policy it could mean that best practice will not exist.
In a report to a KCC meeting, official Annette Aspell said that the government’s objective for the eradication of homelessness includes an increase in social housing provision and the promotion of social inclusion.
A number of specific objectives relating to families and children have been identified including the provision of homes to households at risk of or experiencing homelessness; targeted prevention and early intervention services for families and children at risk of homelessness and the provision of supports to families and children in emergency
accommodation to secure pathways out of homelessness.
Other provisions included enhanced tenancy sustainment support for families and children in long term homelessness; the provision of housing assistance payment to prevent homelessness or assist families experiencing homelessness as well a building on child and family supports.
Ms Aspell said the best interests of children are considered when homeless assessments are being carried out and homeless placements are being made.
She added that KCC is implementing a number of measures to prevent and tackle homelessness.