To that effect, Social Democrats councilor Elisa O’Donovan spoke at the Metropolitan District meeting this week during a debate on how to get more hostel beds for homeless persons.
Cllr O’Donovan said that the homelessness problem has become critical in the city.
In response, the Soc Dems counselor pointed out that staff at ED have confirmed that there are more cases of homeless persons coming with chest pains they do not have. But it is the only place they can turn to in the city where they are reasonably assured of a place to sleep at night.”
The City West representative went on to say that she will ask that the HSE use a homeless liaison nurse at UHL to address this problem
She said that people “are so desperate” because they want to have at least a roof over their heads. That’s why she said they are going to any place they can find one.
Aontú councilor Sarah Beasley, who is leading Mayor John Moran’s new homelessness task force, suggested that the Council ‘urgently examines’ acquiring additional hostel beds. The task force, she said, would attempt to address street homelessness and those struggling with substance use.
“People do not want to travel into town at the moment because we currently have so many people who are street homeless that cannot get into a night shelter in the nine to nine,” Cllr Beasley.
Mr Daniel Butler FG, an addiction counselor expressed concern that other councillors should not make generalizations on such a sensitive issue like homelessness.
We are a shelter and every night 50 people are at risk of being homeless and sleeping on the street. Of course, some of these people will decide on this reality for one reason or another. It might be because they do not feel so comfortable or maybe there are rivalsries. And yes, a lot of them are then presenting at A&E because their medical needs are very complex, maybe from using crack cocaine, their physical condition and the illnesses they suffer are hugely complex,” he said.
According to Cllr Butler, this is because street sleeping will remain constant in the city so long as more accommodation has not been constructed.
