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THE DUBLIN REGION Homeless Executive (DRHE) has confirmed that a 100-bed homeless hostel is set to close.
Brú Aimsir on Dublin’s Thomas Street was opened in October 2015 as part of Dublin City Council’s annual Cold Weather Homeless Initiative, where extra beds are provided for people sleeping rough during the winter months.
The hostel currently provides beds for around 100 people.
It was initially due to close at the end of March 2016, but its closure was deferred as a result of the increasing numbers of rough sleepers in the Dublin region.
DRHE has now confirmed that a contract between itself and the Digital Hub Development Agency (DHDA), who owns the property, is “coming to an end”.
“DRHE never intended for the Brú Aimsir to be a permanent emergency accommodation facility. We were always clear on our commitment to move out once we had sufficient alternative emergency accommodation available,” DRHE said.
The latest rough sleeper count for Dublin found a total of 128 people sleeping rough on the night of 9 and early morning of 10 April. This marked a decrease of 28 from the winter rough sleeper count in November.
However, it marked a rise of 18 on the spring count last year, which is more directly comparable.
Of the people found to be rough sleeping in Dublin, 75% were male and 25% were female. Just under 80% were Irish nationals, while 21% were non-Irish nationals, excluding a total of 29 people whose nationality was not identified.
Alternative arrangements have been put in place for the 105 service users currently accommodated in Brú Aimsir, according to DRHE.
It said it is currently in the process of adding 160 emergency accommodation beds in the city “over the next few weeks”, 120 of which are ready now. These beds will “fully cater for all existing Brú Aimsir residents as well as putting 60 additional places into the system”.
95 of the additional beds will operate on a 24-hour basis and all the new emergency accommodation is within the city.
“We are working very closely with [charity] Depaul to ensure there is a smooth transition for all residents, when they leave on the appointed morning they will be guaranteed a replacement bed that same day,” DRHE said.
Protests
DRHE noted that it has been “very conscious” of the high concentration of emergency accommodation facilities in the Dublin 8 area.
“[DRHE] has always been committed to move out of Brú Aimsir at the earlier possible time. Our previous efforts in trying to establish another hostel in adjacent Carmens Hall two years ago was met with major opposition from the community and public representatives,” it said.
As noted above, the hostel was initially due to close at the end of March 2016.
The news of the proposed closure was met with significant backlash as charities and activists called for the facility to be kept open.
In May 2016, a group of 16 people – former long-term residents of the Brú Aimsir, supported by protesters from the Irish Housing Network group – staged a protest at the hostel overnight.
It was then announced in June 2016 that the hostel was to remain open.
While DRHE has issued a statement on the Brú Aimsir closure, it has not confirmed an exact date of when it will close its doors for the last time.
“The DRHE work tirelessly on a daily basis to source and manage emergency capacity in the Dublin area and will continue to do so in what is an extremely challenging situation,” DRHE said in its statement.
With reporting by Daragh Brophy and Cormac Fitzgerald
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Bail out the banks and not look after the homeless classy ireland
@pat murphy: Pat. We see eye to eye on something for once. But get back to work mate
@pat murphy: any idea how many people who would have become homeless if the banks had failed?
@Craic_a_tower: very few because the banks wouldn’t have been in a position to make them homeless. But furthermore if the government had told the junior bondholders to get lost the banks wouldn’t have failed. ?????. Answers on a postcard please
@Alan Dignam:
And where would the money to pay public sector wages and social welfare have come from if the troika had refused to lend?
This country is f****d. It’s a one way street to riches for the well off, the well heeled, the well connected. Leo is telling Mary Lou that pay restoration is for those on the lowest wages first. Yet the hospital workers are waiting 4 years for an agreement to be filled. FG voted against any pay restoration for the army recently. Many of whom depend on FIS so bad is their pay. 15 Billion spent on a public health service and there’s a recruitment embargo because the HSE has over run it’s budget. It’s obvious the money wasn’t spent on front line staff or services. Billions squandered on the NCH so it’s up to standard for privatisation. 5 Billion to be thrown at a NBS when a company who pulled out of the bidding say they can do it for 1 Billion. They haven’t a chance, the right person isn’t involved with them. Now a homeless hostel is being closed, as per contract, we are told. Homelessness is normal according to Leo so it doesn’t really matter. So much public money being squandered on a daily basis and they cannot pay low paid workers or army personel. Refuse to tackle the homeless problem, the scandalous high rents, the cost of housing. No other people in any other country would tolerate this for one minute.
@Dave Doyle: He said he is only getting started. The country will never recover from what lies ahead.
@Dave Doyle: very accurate and on the mark. Well put.
@Dave Doyle: Privatising the children’s hospital? Don’t be ridiculous. How many public hospitals have been privatised in the last 30 years?
Do you think €15Bn on the health service is too much or too little? Can you tell us all how much should be spent on our public health service.
Do you really think that Eir who a few months ago pulled out of the broadband procurement process can now do it for a third of the preferred bidder’s price? Nobody could be that naive, not even you. Which is saying something.
For someone who makes zero contribution to Irish society, you do love to bitch and moan about it from 3000 Km away.
Developers paid banking lobby group €20m to vacate offices – Banking and Payments Federation receives payment from landlords to vacate part of Nassau House https://www.irishtimes.com/business/commercial-property/developers-paid-banking-lobby-group-20m-to-vacate-offices-1.3937153
I really am so lucky and happy that I have a roof it’s a thing that I and others say but when I read this it is really sad for people who are homeless hopefully this outrageous situation will get resolved
Leo doesn’t care who lives or dies
FFG have this covered. Their gonna sort the broadband for 1 billion leaving 2 billion for homes for Irish people. … Sorted. .. Not a stupid as they look.
Well ..
@Willy:
More votes in broadband
Closed due to lack of business…..
Because its safer to sleep on the street
Another victory for eoghan Murphy
have your say