Sinn Féin has called on the Housing Minister to expand the number of Housing First tenancies to 1,000.

The party's housing spokesperson, Eoin Ó Broin, made the call after a homeless man died in the emergency department of Tallaght Hospital on Saturday, 14 April.

It is believed the man was seeking shelter at the hospital and not treatment.

Deputy Ó Broin said: "Government policy is not working and its reluctance to deal with the causes of homelessness is in fact exacerbating the problem.

-- Advertisement --

"We don't need summits, we don't need media statements, and we certainly don't need any more government rhetoric on how money isn't an issue and that the problem is being tackled.

"The only real solution for rough sleepers with complex needs is the Housing First programme. Internationally, Housing First is recognised as a permanent solution to rough sleeping that provides housing for homeless people with complex needs first instead of focusing on treatment first.

"Unfortunately, despite the roll out of this programme being government policy, only 180 Housing First tenancies were created out of a government target of 300 for 2017.

"Minister Eoghan Murphy must expand the number of Housing First tenancies to 1,000. This would have the potential to positively impact on the lives of the growing number of rough sleepers throughout the State."

(CD/LM)