Councillor criticises reported emergency accommodation change

Cllr Chris Pender.

The 165 adults registered in emergency accommodation in County Kildare at the end of May are only a part of the county's homeless situation, according to Kildare-Newbridge MD councillor Chris Pender, writes Brian Byrne. He says the number only reflects people in hostels, hotels and B&Bs.

"They don’t include those sleeping in cars, on friends’ sofas, or fleeing domestic violence with nowhere to go," he says. "We’re talking about real people, real lives and a system already at breaking point.”

The Social Democrats councillor was commenting on media reports that the government is considering allowing local authorities to withdraw access to emergency homeless accommodation for individuals or families who refuse more than one offer of social housing. He called the idea 'cruel, dangerous and a denial of basic rights' and one which fails to recognise the real and often urgent reasons why people may turn down housing offers that do not meet their needs. “It’s about people protecting their families, avoiding dangerous areas, staying close to vital medical services, or needing appropriate disability access. You cannot, in good conscience, take away a roof from someone because the place offered would put them or their children at risk."

The reported move follows a call from a working group set up by the Department of Housing to examine changes to homelessness legislation, after concerns raised by the County and City Managers Association. The group itself called for the introduction of specific powers to allow local councils to withdraw offers of emergency accommodation, and for the introduction of eligibility criteria to access emergency accommodation. 

The idea has already been criticised by charities dealing with homelessness, including Focus Ireland, Simon, and DePaul.

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