No modular homes for city’s homeless

The use of cellular modular houses is not being considered as a temporary solution to Galway City’s housing shortage crisis, it has been confirmed.

The temporary houses – effectively prefabricated homes – are being used to reduce homelessness in Dublin but they do not form part of Galway City Council’s plans.

The Council has ruled out use of the temporary structures, as new information has emerged which shows city landlords continue to abandon the RAS Scheme which is resulting in a spike in homelessness in Galway, and increased Council housing waiting lists.

Meanwhile, a homeless Galway mother and her two children are still sleeping rough in the family car in the city, as no suitable accommodation has been found.

This weekend, the unemployed teacher and her two girls, aged 12 and 14, will have been sleeping rough in their car at a popular city tourist attraction, for two weeks.

The case, which highlights the homeless crisis in Galway, was first revealed in our newspaper last week.

Since then a number of people have come forward with offers of help.

The mother, who asked to remain anonymous to protect the identity of her children who are going to school in the city, is hopeful of a finding a home next week.

“We have found a landlord that is willing to take rent allowance. We are just waiting for approval from the Social Welfare office. The rents are very high – it’s €1,100 for a two-bed. That’s a lot higher than during the Celtic Tiger era. We are just waiting for approval for the rent allowance,” she said yesterday.

She said Galway West TD Éamon Ó Cuív is helping with her situation. She claims neither the City Council nor social care workers have been in touch with her in over a week.

The mother confirmed that nothing has happened to the trio while they were sleeping rough in their car but they are desperate now to find a home.

“No, we haven’t had any trouble. But at the same time how safe is it to be sleeping out in the car? We are hoping to get somewhere next week. We are exhausted by it all,” she said.

Since being evicted last May, the family have moved 14 times as the City Council provided them with temporary, emergency accommodation in B&Bs, hotels and apartments.

This individual case highlights the housing shortage in the city. City Council Chief Executive, Brendan McGrath confirmed this week that some 37 landlords issued ‘notices to quit’ to tenants on the RAS scheme.

RAS was popular with landlords during the recession because they were guaranteed income for a set period but now that rents have soared, they are leaving the scheme because they can get much higher rents in the open market.

Last week, a Council spokesperson confirmed up to 20 people who are desperate and seeking emergency accommodation, are presenting as newly-homeless.

Despite the problem, the Council yesterday said it currently has no plans to follow the lead of Dublin and provide cellular modular houses as an interim measure.

The City Council is awaiting approval from the Department of Environment to proceed with plans to build 69 new Council homes in Knocknacarra. Work on 14 new Council houses is underway but Government approval for the remaining 69 adjacent to them hasn’t been given.