Almost 60 households in county classed as homeless

The annual cost to Galway County Council of dealing with homelessness is becoming “unsustainable”, according to the local authority’s moneyman.

Ger Mullarkey, head of finance, was forced into the admission at the latest Council meeting where it was revealed there are currently 57 households in the county who are categorised as homeless.

The figure of 57 homeless homeholds in County Galway includes some people who are sleeping rough but mostly those categorised as ‘hidden homeless’, who are sleeping on friends’ couches or on floors in the homes of their families.

Director of Housing, Michael Owens confirmed the figure as he outlined the Council’s Draft Framework Homeless Action Plan, June 2017.

The Council has allocated €595,000 to homelessness this year, and 90% of this will be recouped from central government, as has been the case since the Housing Act was instigated in 1988.

Michael Owens told the meeting that the nature and extent of homelessness is changing in the county – it used to be predominantly single males but now more and more families are becoming homeless.

The homeless crisis facing the city has major implications for the county, he said.

“The impacts of the recent economic downturn and the consequential housing supply shortage have resulted in a new homelessness dynamic, whereby households which traditionally would have been able to access accommodation in the private rented sector are presenting to homeless services . . . Due to the demands placed on the homeless services based in Galway City and the new dynamic of families with children presenting as homeless, the Council is no longer in a position to meet its responsibilities to homeless individuals and families by availing of services in the city.

“It is recognised that many households at risk of homelessness are able to resolve their accommodation crisis with assistance, information and advice. For some households who are experiencing crisis, however, their homelessness may be enduring and require the availability of temporary accommodation and the wrap-around assessment and support services. There is currently no temporary emergency accommodation or temporary supported accommodation in the County of Galway,” he said.

As a result, the Council has to work closely with all stakeholders, “to develop and localise a range of supports and services to prevent homelessness, whilst at the same time continuing to work hard to advance housing-led solutions that effectively end the experience of homelessness.”

Timmy Broderick (Ind) said the new plan was very detailed but “we can’t afford it”, adding the Council’s finances are “in freefall”.

He insisted the voluntary housing agencies, “need to step up to the mark”, in terms of funding. And Cllr Broderick slammed Government departments for not giving adequate resources to the local authority to tackle homelessness. He said homelessness was an issue that was being “piggybacked on”, and “every time it is, it’s the local authority budget that is affected”. He challenged the director of finances to confirm if the levels of funding – 10% of the total outlay on homelessness is paid by the County Council – are sustainable.

In response, Mr Mullarkey said: “It is 10% we have to provide. Is it sustainable? Probably not. No.”

Chief Executive of the Council, Kevin Kelly, and Mr Owens, both reminded the meeting that the local authority has a statutory obligation to provide housing.

Peter Feeney (FG) said the Council has a service to provide, and this new plan was putting in place the structures to facilitate the implementation of the plan.

Cllr Broderick didn’t want the plan to be adopted until there was a pledge of more money but Cllr Feeney said you cannot apply for more money, or expect to draw it down, without first having a plan in place.

“This is about putting a cogent plan together so that we can get the money,” he argued.

Cathaoirleach Eileen Mannion (FG) said because of the statutory obligation on the Council with regards housing, the local authority was going to have to pay 10% of the cost regardless.

“This plan isn’t going to cost us any more if we adopt it,” she stressed.

Michael Connolly (FF) said he has been 18 years on the County Council, and the problem of homelessness has only surfaced as an issue with constituents in the past two.

He said many of them were people who lost their jobs, have young families and cannot afford their mortgage repayments. “We have to have a strategy to deal with this,” said Cllr Connolly.

The draft plan was adopted, and it was agreed a separate motion regarding the starving of Galway County Council of funds be sent to the department.