Fresh hope for the homeless and those fleeing domestic violence

Fresh hope for the homeless and those fleeing domestic violence

By Mary Dennehy

MONEY has been earmarked by South Dublin County Council for an emergency women’s refuge and a separate supported temporary accommodation centre for homeless people in the county.

As reported in The Echo last October, the council experienced an unexpected excess of income of €4.9 million last year – due to payroll and procurement savings, a greater than anticipated income in rates and extra NPPR (Non Principal Private Residence) receipts.

The council decided to invest the cash windfall into specified capital projects, a list of which were revealed this week in council chambers (see page 26).

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A significant inclusion on the list is the allocation of €300,000 to the establishment of a supported temporary accommodation centre for homeless people, similar to a council-owned service in Tallaght which opened its doors in June, 2013.

Run by the Peter McVerry Trust on behalf of the local authority, the 16-bed unit in Tallaght provides accommodation and support to homeless people from the area of South Dublin County Council, which currently has 247 applicants on its homeless register.

Unlike emergency accommodation, which only provides people with a bed at night on a first come, first served basis, supported temporary accommodation provides people with a stable place to sleep for up to six months, meals and daily support tailored to their needs.

Peter mc Collage resized

One of the long-term aims of supported temporary accommodation is that it supports homeless people on the road to living in their own home, and to date it has supported more than 50 people.

In a separate allocation, €300,000 has also been ringfenced for the development of a second emergency women’s refuge in the county, which will support the work already being carried out by Saoirse’s women’s refuge in Tallaght.

Out of the €4.9m surplus budget, €1.9m has been directed into housing services – with €900,000 going towards homeless services in 2015, €300,000 going to the windows and doors programme and €100,000 provided for roads and landscaping improvements in council estates, with a particular focus on area facilitating additional in-fill housing.

Speaking to The Echo, Billy Coman, director of housing, said: “I’m delighted that we have circled off this money and the council has already started searching for suitable sites for the refuge and temporary homeless service.

“We’re not sure where the services will be at this early stage but, as we already have a refuge and supported accommodation centre in Tallaght, we would like to develop them in other parts of the county.

“We’re ready to go now, we just need buy-in from the HSE and Tusla, we can provide the building, but ongoing support for whichever group ends up running the service is vital.”

He added: “There are so many issues tied in with the housing crisis, many of which have come to the fore in our county.

“However, it is a step in the right direction that we now have a pocket of money to deliver additional services which will provide the proper support to both homeless people and families fleeing domestic violence.”

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