Plan to deal with Co Kildare homeless
KILDARE GENERAL, 1 August 2002: by Brian Byrne. Measures ranging from the recruitment of outreach workers to the immunisation of staff working with homeless people are among 30 elements in an a Homeless Action Plan prepared by the County Kildare Homeless Forum.
The plan will last through 2002-2005, and will also involve measures to prevent homelessness and to identify long-term homeless people habitually located in the county and assess the most suitable accommodation for them.
Kildare County Council also undertakes to assess people presenting themselves as homeless within three weeks, and to assist them in locating long-term accommodation within three months.
The Forum was set up with representatives from both statutory and voluntary organisations working with the homeless in the county, following a request to all local authorities from the minister for the environment.
It includes council officials, delegates from groups providing emergency accommodation, and the South Western Area Health Board.
Last year in Co Kildare, more than 13,900 bed nights of emergency accommodation were provided to homeless people. Of these, 1,811 were children.
And 31 people with previous addresses in Co Kildare presented themselves to the Homeless Persons Unit in Dublin during 2001. Nineteen of these were single men and seven single women. More than two-thirds were aged between 20-40.
A survey last March concluded that there was ‘no serious problem’ of ‘rough sleepers’ in Kildare, but a one-night census a year earlier disclosed 58 people in the county to be homeless, of whom 48 were in hostel accommodation.
When the Forum placed newspaper advertisements inviting submissions, there were no responses.
Homeless are accommodated in Michael Garry House in Newbridge by the Society of St Vincent de Paul, in Cuan Mhuire in Athy and by Youth for Peace in Athy. Kildare County Council also accommodates homeless people in B&B facilities.
Under the plan, the Council and the SWAHB will provide homeless awareness training to all ‘front-line’ staff in all agencies under their control.
Other elements include the provision of supports for homeless people who move into transitional or long-term housing.
An immunisation programme for staff working with the homeless and for the homeless themselves will be instituted because there is a high incidence of Hepatitis B amongst the homeless population.
Local ‘drop in’ centres are to be established in the county so homeless people don’t have to go outside their area for help.
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'Last year in Co Kildare, more than 13,900 bed nights of emergency accommodation were provided to homeless people. Of these, 1,811 were children'
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