NOVAS Initiatives is currently working with 50 families in Limerick City who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
NOVAS Initiatives is currently working with 50 families in Limerick City who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.The voluntary agency has revealed that its Family Support Service in the city continues to accept referrals at unprecedented levels. The service, which has a capacity of 40 families per month, is currently supporting 50 families in the city.
According to manager of Novas’ Family Support Service, Grainne Madigan, it is now operating at 25 per cent above capacity. This, she said, is placing immense pressure on the service.
“Despite the increase there are still 25 families on a waiting list who are in immediate need of a service,” she told the Limerick Post.
“Family homelessness is due to a number of issues including a lack of rented property in the private-rented market and insufficient rent supplements, which do not reflect market rent,” she added.
Novas’ communications manager Una Burns explained that when rented homes are repossessed by banks and families are subsequently forced to leave, they find it increasingly difficult to secure a new property within current rent supplement limits.
“The extent of family homelessness is even greater than the official figures reveal due to the extent of ‘hidden homeless’, where families are staying with relatives and friends on a temporary basis following tenancy breakdown. These arrangements can break down very quickly and families can find themselves immediately homeless,” Ms Burns explained.
Novas, which also operate an out-of-hours service, supporting people who find themselves unexpectedly homeless, noted that eight families presented through this channel last month, indicating the sudden nature of their homeless situation. A further 117 single adults also presented to the out-of-hours service during January.
Novas are tackling the problem through a number of means.
“Last year we purchased eight houses for homeless families in the city in collaboration with the JP McManus Benevolent Fund and the local authority. In addition to this we are currently operating a Housing First service with Limerick’s Homeless Action Team to move homeless people directly into independent accommodation.
“However, a broader response is required. The next government, whoever that maybe, must prioritise housing post-election by immediately increasing rent supplement levels, commencing a social housing building programme in the region of 40,000 homes over the next five years and fully enforcing Part V of the Planning and Development Act to include social and affordable housing in all new developments,” Ms Burns concluded.
