SOME FINGLAS RESIDENTS are calling for a centre for marginalised homeless women to be closed down following reports of anti-social behaviour.

A newly-formed committee of locals living near the Abigail Women’s Centre on Kildonan Road want it shut down, saying that some locals feel “trapped” in their homes because of the residents’ behaviour.

In response to the issues, Dublin City Council (DCC) told TheJournal.ie it has put in place security patrols, and has also moved some residents out of the centre.

What is the centre?

Abigail Women’s Centre (AWC) is a 40-bed facility for homeless women and is the only supported temporary accommodation service dedicated to women in the capital.

The residents are some of Dublin’s “most marginalised women, many of whom have been homeless for years”, Novas Initiatives says on its website. 

The site was formerly a detention centre for children, which closed in 2010.

Locals’ concerns

Now a local action committee has been formed, and has the full support of the West Finglas Tenants and Residents Association (WFTRA).

A press release said: “People in Finglas fully appreciate that Dublin has a very serious homeless problem, but as we already have a homeless shelter in Finglas West we believe one is more than enough”.

They noted that there is already a significant drug problem in this area.

The group wants DCC to find an alternative use for the centre “before irreparable damage is done to our area”.

“Local residents feel trapped in their homes and are afraid to let their young children play in their own front gardens after numerous incidents involving these women,” added the press release.

Some of the problems were detailed at a meeting held on 31 March.

“I’m not a prude or anything but I was shocked by what I was hearing,” said a WFTRA spokesperson.

He said that the nearby football pitch is checked for needles before matches, and sexual behaviour had also been reported by locals.

“I understand what is happening in [there], I’m always a fan of rehabilitation. But when they walk outside, as a resident it’s our issue then.”

WFTRA is set to hold another meeting on 10 April about the issue.

What’s being done?

A statement from the Homeless Executive to TheJournal.ie said that since mid-March, DCC “has been actively consulting with local community stakeholders and elected representatives on concerns raised from local residents” in the vicinity of the centre.

It noted DCC has met with the residents and stakeholders, such as at the 31 March meeting.

The aim[s] of these meetings are to consult on the expectations and requirements of local stakeholders to ensure that the public domain adjacent to the facility is supervised and managed effectively.

It said that DCC is working with the service providers to arrange alternative placements for some service users.

The council has also reduced [the] number of service users placed in emergency accommodation on site.

The council will continue to monitor the effectiveness of “increased public domain management resources”, which include:

• Highly visible public domain liaison staff who will operate outside the gates to the facility and “who are responsible for assertive outreach to service users” as they enter and leave, and for “communication and follow up with all members of the community and liaison with neighbours on matters concern[ing] the operation of the facility”.
• The use of a minibus to bring service users to scheduled appointments and reduce the need to traverse Kildonan Rd unaccompanied.
• On-the-hour identifiable security patrols in the general environs. These patrols are “responsible for monitoring and reporting on any anti-social behaviour that a service user is engaging in and assisting the service providers in arranging appropriate responses to same”.
• Based on the above and other “relevant intelligence”, the service providers will liaise with An Garda Siochána as required and will report immediately observed anti-social behaviour immediately to the gardaí.

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