The Government's new homeless strategy The Way Home: A Strategy to address Adult Homelessness in Ireland 2008-2013 sets out a comprehensive framework for tackling the issue of homelessness.
One of the key strategic aims of the strategy is to ensure that an adequate supply of housing is made available to meet the long-term housing needs of homeless persons. The Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) has been identified as one of a range of options offering potential in meeting the needs of certain homeless households, particularly single person households who are capable of independent living. This is supported by the initial feedback from a number of pilot projects already in operation where RAS is used to accommodate homeless households.