Limerick charity exceeds emergency accommodation numbers due to increased demand during freezing weather
Freezing temperatures across Ireland have placed a strain on emergency accommodation, Una Burns, Novas’ Head of Advocacy shared the Limerick based charity is working to extend capacity through cold weather initiatives
Some people who were rough sleeping in Limerick City through freezing temperatures had to be turned away last night as the sub-zero weather placed pressure on emergency accommodation - but a charity is working to extend capacity through cold weather initiatives.
Una Burns, Novas’ Head of Advocacy, told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland that while the charity’s outreach van was quieter than normal, they exceeded numbers at emergency accommodation due to an increased number of people accessing services.
This was despite extended capacity in emergency accommodation throughout the city via the winter bed and cold bed initiative.
READ MORE: We spent a night alongside the tireless volunteers at street outreach van run by Novas
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Novas is a dedicated charity in Limerick City that operates all year round to help people in need. The service is run entirely by a volunteer team and receives no state funding and is entirely dependent on donations and fundraising.
She shared “We run a street outreach every night of the week supporting people who might be rough sleeping or people who are on the margins of society.
“Last night was actually a little bit quieter than normal. We had around 15 to 20 people presenting so we're hoping that some people had made arrangements in advance of that.
“About six or seven of those were known to us to be people who rough sleep, so you’re providing those with signposting, trying to get them into services, providing sleeping bags.
“Then across our services in Limerick city and including other providers and the city and collaboration with the HSE and the local authority then there was a winter bed and a cold bed initiative which extended capacity in emergency accommodation right throughout the city
“We exceeded those emergency numbers again last night and even at that unfortunately we had to turn people away which is really difficult in such inclement conditions.”
She added: “We exceeded the cold weather initiative, the winter initiative, we took a couple of extra people in and we still had six people that we were unable to accommodate last night so that's very difficult for the staff, and particularly for the people that are presenting to the doors services looking for support.
“You’re kind of trying to support people to maybe encourage them to access friends and family if that's a possibility for them and if they don't seem to go to the Gardaí, if they're feeling well to go to the hospital.
“You’re particularly concerned for people that are non-irish, particularly in Limerick we would have a number of Eastern Europeans that would present regularly to our street outreach because they don't have those support networks in events like this so they're the people that are of most concern to us last night.”
With the cold spell set to continue throughout the weekend, Una told the Irish Mirror that the charity is concerned about people who may be at risk of rough sleeping, and appealed to anyone who may see someone on the streets there is a dedicated help-line.
Una shared with the Irish Mirror: “We are particularly concerned about people who are at risk of rough sleeping during this particularly cold spell, that is set to continue into next week.
“Along with our partners in government, we are working to extend capacity through cold weather initiatives, providing additional capacity in communal spaces, on couches and on roll-out beds within our homeless accommodation.
“As demand exceeds capacity, even with emergency measures in place, we are deeply concerned for people who may not be able to access emergency accommodation and continue to be at risk of rough sleeping.”
“Our street outreach and out-of-hours services will operate as normal during the protracted cold spell, providing sleeping bags, warm meals and advice and support.
“If you see anyone on the streets you can ring 1800 606060 in Limerick, for 24/7 support. In Dublin, the Central Placement Service can be contacted on 1800 707 707.”
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