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Accommodation Options for Homeless People
If you are homeless or working on behalf of homeless people the information in this
page will be of assistance to you.
Local authorities have a wide range of powers to secure accommodation for homeless people. In addition to the direct provision of housing, local authorities can make arrangements with voluntary organisations to make accommodation available for homeless people, provide financial or other assistance to homeless people and, if necessary, arrange private accommodation.
In practice, local authorities liase closely with health boards, voluntary bodies providing accommodation and with other statutory and voluntary bodies providing a range of services to homeless people to ensure as wide ranging and complete a response as possible to homelessness.
Who is a homeless person?
A homeless person is defined in section 2 of the Housing Act, 1988, as a person, who, in the opinion of the local authority concerned,
(a) has no accommodation available which he or any other person who normally resides with him, or might reasonably be expected to reside with him, can reasonably occupy or remain in occupation of,
OR
(b) is living in a hospital, county home, night shelter or other such institution because he does not have accommodation of the kind referred to in (a),
AND
is unable to provide accommodation from his own resources.
This means that persons who have no accommodation available to them and persons living in night shelters etc. solely because they have no other accommodation may be regarded as homeless by the local authority where they are unable to provide accommodation from their own resources.
What accommodation is available?
Accommodation, depending upon whether the need is for long term, short term, transitional or emergency accommodation, can take the form of local authority housing, hostel type accommodation provided by statutory agencies or voluntary bodies, emergency bed and breakfast accommodation provided in the private sector, or suitable private rented accommodation.
Local authority housing
People in need of permanent housing can apply to a local authority for a tenancy in a local authority house or flat. Applicants are assessed by the local authority and, if eligible, are placed on the local authority's housing list. The time taken before a tenancy is allocated will depend on the demand for housing in the local authority's area and the individual circumstances of applicants waiting for housing. In the meantime, a homeless person may remain in a hostel, bed and breakfast, or private rented accommodation.
Hostel type accommodation
A range of hostel type accommodation is available for homeless people. Some of this accommodation is available on a nightly (usually first-come) basis while some is used as transitional or long-term accommodation. Voluntary bodies operate accommodation for homeless people throughout the country; these include the St. Vincent de Paul Society (in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick, Waterford and other locations), the Simon Community (in Dublin, Cork, Galway and Dundalk), the Salvation Army (several locations in Dublin), the Iveagh Trust, Focus Ireland (in Dublin) etc. In the Dublin area, Dublin Corporation and the Eastern Regional Health Authority also operate hostel accommodation.
Bed and Breakfast accommodation
Where the accommodation needs of a homeless person or family are immediate and acute and no suitable hostel accommodation is available they may be referred by a local authority, a health board or other body to bed and breakfast type accommodation until their needs and options can be more fully established.
Private Rented Accommodation
Suitable private rented accommodation may be an appropriate accommodation option for some homeless people. Part of the rent of private accommodation may be met under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance Scheme. Decisions in relation to rent assistance rest with the local Health Board and applications, which are subject to a means test, are dealt with by the Community Care Service at the local Health Centre (addresses and telephone numbers are listed in the State Services Section towards the front of the telephone directory).
Accommodation for Victims of Domestic Violence
Health boards and voluntary bodies provide accommodation and services specifically for victims of domestic violence. The local Health Board will have details of accommodation and services available in its area.
Useful contacts for homeless people seeking accommodation
Information on accommodation is available from the local referral service or local authorities. These bodies will, in some cases, arrange hostel accommodation and, where required, arrange bed and breakfast accommodation. In the Dublin area, the first point of contact for people who are homeless will usually be the Homeless Persons Unit (address below) run by the Eastern Regional Health Authority in conjunction with the Dublin local authorities. An after-hours freephone referral service (1800724724) is available until 1.00am on weekdays and between 10.00am and 1.00am at weekends.
Dublin Area
Day-Time Service
Homeless Persons Unit (Eastern Regional Health Authority)
Charles Street West (Off Ormond Quay)
Dublin I
Telephone 8752104 or 8725241
(10.00 am to 4.00 p.m. except lunch time)
After Hours Freephone Referral Service
(Eastern Regional Health Authority)
Weekdays 5.00 p.m. - 1.00 a.m.
Weekends 10.00 a.m. - 1.00 a.m.
Freephone 1800 724 724
Cork City
Southern Health Board Referral Service
Drinan Street
Cork
Telephone 021 - 963052 (daytime)
Galway City
Galway Corporation
Housing Department
City Hall
College Road
Galway
Telephone 091 - 568151 (daytime)
Limerick City
Limerick Corporation
Housing Department
City Hall
Limerick
Telephone 061 - 415799 ext. 316 (daytime)
Waterford City
South Eastern Health Board
Community Care Centre
Cork Road
Waterford
Telephone 051 - 842800 (daytime)
Contact numbers for other local authorities and health boards are contained in the State Services Directory (green bordered pages) of the Telephone Directory.
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