Facilities “are not employing qualified, trained case workers to deal with the complex issues”, says Anthony Flynn, CEO of Inner City Helping Homeless.
To use his nebuliser, he needs a plug. It’s not a problem when he’s in hospital or within easy reach of a socket. It’s different when he’s left on the streets.
Figures suggest that what the council pays for homeless-hostel beds has risen. But it’s really hard to tell, which is a problem in itself, councillors say.
They talked about needing to look afresh at the freephone system, reducing reliance on night-time-only hostel beds, and providing more daytime services.
Feelings of immense relief when Gail Kelly and Brian Bolger got access to a “respite” room were replaced by feelings of total hopelessness when they had to leave it.
Overflowing bowls, used needles scattered on the floor, and trails of blood. One man who stayed there said he left after three nights said because he couldn’t hack the disgusting bathrooms.
A survey funded by our readers and conducted by Amárach Research asked about issues including how often people call the freephone and can’t get a bed for the night, and the conditions in the hostels when they do get in.
“What’s often overlooked in the broad sweep of articles and statistics about homelessness is that homelessness itself is a trauma,” writes Christine O’Donnell.
