Substantial progress is being made under the Government's strategy on adult homelessness, Homelessness - an Integrated Strategy (May 2000), in addressing the needs of people who are homeless and in assisting them to move to accommodation that is more suitable to their needs. This has been done through the recognition that homelessness is not just about accommodation, but that health, care and welfare, education and training, and prevention needs be addressed if homelessness is to be tackled effectively.

This Homeless Preventative Strategy focuses on people leaving institutional care, whether custodial or health related, and young people leaving care. It is an important I element of the Government's overall strategy on tackling homelessness. The Departments of Justice, Equality and Law Reform; Health and Children; and Education and Science have each participated in the preparation of this strategy under the aegis of the Cross Department Team on Homelessness with the objective of ensuring that people leaving institutions under their auspices do not become homeless.

The main theme throughout is the need to ensure that no one is released or discharged from state care without the appropriate measures in place to ensure that they have a suitable place to live with the necessary supports, if needed.