Addiction and mental health support must be a "top priority" for people experiencing homelessness, according to the Simon Communities of Ireland.
On Thursday, the Simon Week event in Dublin focused on the role of permanent housing as a cornerstone for recovery, particularly for those with mental health issues and addiction.
Anita Harris, deputy head of services at drug and alcohol treatment centre Coolmine, spoke about the challenges of homelessness and recovery.
She said: “Priorities and needs change for men and women as they progress through the different stages of recovery and whilst there has been some great collaborations and innovative responses between addiction services and housing providers, this is not all encompassing – its dependent on annual funding, geography and policy direction.
"The current housing system cannot cater to different recovery stages where housing pathways are usually determined by availability as opposed to need. For those in recovery from addiction, acceptance of housing/accommodation based on availability as opposed to their needs can be detrimental to their recovery.
"The need for an interdepartmental strategic response to homelessness by both the Department of Housing and Department of Health is required where both hold accountability for the outcome.
"We are all in agreement that provision of housing is the solution to homelessness, but for the majority of homeless people, this prospect is years away. In the interim, we need to ensure that there are appropriate housing pathways with health support for people both entering and exiting treatment."
Ms Harris said there needs to be significant expansion of the already existing housing supports for people trying to access treatment.
"For people exiting treatment, recovery housing is a very real and practical solution that requires real consideration by the departments of housing and health," she said.
Wayne Stanley, the executive director of the Simon Communities of Ireland, said: “The Housing First programme is delivering for those long-term in homelessness and we are calling for the upcoming budget, this Government and the next Government to increase the ambition for that programme.
"Housing First is the solution to long-term homelessness, but we also want to ensure that homelessness does not become a long-term crisis for those in homelessness.
"A part of that work is ensuring that the supports are in place for those at risk of homelessness and those in homelessness who are at risk of ending up long-term in homelessness.
"We know there are good initiatives in place to do that work and we are examining them today and calling for the expansion of those initiatives.”
The event will conclude with a political panel featuring members of the Oireachtas Housing Committee, including Sinn Féin's Eoin O Broin, Cian O’Callaghan from the Social Democrats, Labour leader Ivana Bacik and Fianna Fáil Senator Mary Fitzpatrick, who will set out the actions that their parties will be taking, if elected to Government, to work towards ending homelessness by 2030.
