Homelessness in Galway City is the worst in the country

Galway’s homelessness crisis is worse than any other city in the country, the head of the City Council has admitted.

Chief Executive Brendan McGrath told councillors at a local authority meeting this week that homelessness is a bigger problem here than in other cities, but anybody who needs a bed will get one.

However, he said that some people on the streets have refused to engage with homeless services and refused a bed.

“There is nobody on the streets of Galway tonight who needed to be there, because there was an offer of a bed for them.

“The issue is complex. Contact is made continuously with those on the streets and offers of accommodation to all. In a number of cases, people decline for their own reasons.

“There were times when our services were at creaking point, and I acknowledge the help of hotels, guest houses – without them, I wouldn’t be able to say there was an offer of a bed for everyone who needed one.

“Sadly, some people who are homeless are homeless for a variety of reasons and in many cases, a complexity of reasons. In 21st Century Ireland, everybody is entitled to be dry at night.

“Pro-rata, [homelessness] is a bigger problem that in other cities, but we’ve kept our head above water and ensured anybody who needed a bed got one.

“Over Christmas, a few people refused to engage – they were visited umpteen times. At the end of the day, if people say no, they say no.

“It’s a lifestyle choice for a small number of people in the summer time, not in the winter time. Then there are people in squats. It’s complex, it’s difficult, it’s intractable. At least we’ve managed to ensure everybody who wants to avail of the bed got one,” said Mr McGrath.

For more on the city’s homelessness and housing crisis, see this week’s Galway City Tribune.
Buy a digital edition of this week’s Galway City Tribune here, or download the app for Android or iPhone.