I am aware that the homeless are a high risk group in relation to a number of health conditions, including mental illness.
The main difficulty in relation to adult homelessness has been in the Dublin area and, in order to address this, the Eastern Regional Health Authority has appointed a director of homelessness who is working closely with the three area health boards in implementing the provisions of "Homelessness – An Integrated Strategy" (May 2000).
The work of the three area health boards includes measures to improve mental health services for people who are homeless. At present, there are 35 community accommodation places available within the Eastern region for homeless mentally ill requiring varying levels of support in the community. The homeless psychiatric service also has access to sheltered accommodation in the Granby Centre and with Focus housing. The homeless mentally ill can also access places in emergency beds and transitional beds where their illness is stabilised.
There is no policy among service providers to exclude anybody with a mental illness from its services. It is the case, however, that those homeless people with ongoing behavioural problems, particularly as they relate to alcohol or drugs, may be excluded from some accommodation provision.
As indicated in the health strategy, officials from my Department have been involved in conjunction with officials from other Departments in the preparation of the Homeless Preventative Strategy, which was published recently. The strategy is designed to prevent homelessness among those leaving institutional care, who may be at risk. The strategy provides guidance to health boards to ensure procedures and policies are in place to further reduce the risk of people leaving institutional care becoming homeless.
