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A tent in Dublin city centre. Sam Boal/RollingNews.ie

'We were in crisis before coronavirus': Housing charities set aside rooms for homeless people who need to self-isolate

Homeless charities are preparing for Covid-19.

HOUSING SERVICES ARE taking steps to protect homeless people as Ireland steps up preparations for a major coronavirus outbreak. 

Emergency accommodation, hostels and family hubs, already struggling under the burden of a homelessness crisis in Ireland, are now taking drastic measures to protect homeless people from the coronavirus. 

Facing something of an unprecedented situation, charities and homeless services – especially in Dublin – are trying to work together with Dublin City Council to co-ordinate a response. 

“We were in crisis before this came along,” Mike Allen from Focus Ireland told TheJournal.ie. He says it’s now more like “crisis squared”. 

Allen says that charities simply can’t scale back “essential services”, pointing to the organisation’s daily coffee shop and other day services that provide food and shelter for people who can only access overnight hostels. 

Self-isolation

One of the major challenges for homeless people who may have coronavirus is self-isolation. 

An already vulnerable population, many of whom suffer from health problems, they share rooms in emergency accommodation or cramped hotel rooms for families, making it difficult to realistically self-isolate for anyone who has tested positive for Covid-19. 

“If they need to self-isolate, it is impossible in their current circumstances to do so,” Allen says. 

Focus Ireland is planning to set aside around 20 housing units that are currently either finished or temporarily vacant if homeless people need to self-isolate. 

“We’re trying to hold a certain amount of our housing units, which may be empty, so we will have those available [for people] who might need to self-isolate,” Allen said. 

The organisation is also trying to work with other homeless services to create more “rolling bookings” so homeless people aren’t moving around different hostels every night. 

“This is putting people at significant risk,” Allen said. 

Last night, 10 new cases of Covid-19 were confirmed in Ireland – bringing the total to 34.

At a press conference yesterday evening, Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan said: “98% of all suspected cases in Ireland have tested negative. While Ireland remains in containment phase, there is no room for complacency.”

“We all have a part to play in limiting and slowing the spread of this disease.”

With the country still in a ‘containment phase’, the government has announced a €2.4 billion package of reforms for sick pay, illness benefit and supplementary benefit to prepare for the long-term impact of coronvirus. 

Preparation

Peter McVerry Trust, which is mostly based in Dublin, Kildare, Meath and Louth, last night held the third meeting of its internal taskforce dedicated Covid-19. 

Francis Doherty, from the charity, said the first concern was to keep services running and to continue operating as normal. 

Peter McVerry Trust, he said, has “identified a number of buildings where we can provide isolation rooms”. 

These are mostly in Dublin, Doherty said, where they expect to deal with the most cases if coronavirus begins to spread seriously. 

Comparing the preparations to the ‘beast from the east’ storm in 2018, he said it was about “making sure people are aware of the issue” and encouraging “them to come in to use the available emergency accommodation”. 

With 500 packs containing masks and protective equipment ready to be used by Peter McVerry Trust staff, the charity is also been talking to GPs and the HSE about ensuring homeless people on methadone can access it if they need to self-isolate. 

Another concern is ensuring that there are “coping plans” in place for people who might have the coronavirus while also suffering from addiction. 

A spokesperson for the Dublin Region Homeless Executive said that a “homeless services specific HSE guidance note has issued to all local authorities and homeless service providers”. 

The executive, the spokesperson said, is “closely monitoring the evolving situation and will activate contingency plans, including contingency beds and suitable accommodation as and when required”. 

They also said that “the majority of placements into emergency accommodation are already continuous bookings”. 

Like other organisations, housing charities now have little choice but to prepare for the worst. 

“There is a sense of gearing up to protect the people we’re working with,” Mike Allen said. 

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    Mute Willy Mc Entire
    Favourite Willy Mc Entire
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    Mar 11th 2020, 6:11 AM

    100 years experience.
    FFG gonna get housing sorted this time !
    Well , maybe not :-(
    Is this the change voted?
    Don’t think so…

    51
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    Mute Bleurgh
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    Mar 11th 2020, 6:20 AM

    @Willy Mc Entire: but where are the left parties? What talks are they having? The country needs leadership now

    28
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    Mute old england is dead
    Favourite old england is dead
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    Mar 11th 2020, 6:36 AM

    @Bleurgh: hopefully they are off buying up the oxygen that we are going to need when the CV effects really kick off. After 9:11 The US leaders advised citizens to keep shopping. It’s all about consumerism. That’s what keeps the west ticking. This CV experiment by China is about to get interesting.

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    Mute David Corrigan
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    Mar 11th 2020, 6:38 AM

    @Bleurgh: All the smaller parties are powerless to do anything as FF and FG are determined to keep them all away from the trough. We probably have to put up with another 4 or 5 years of FF and FG but then they will be destroyed at the next election and more than likely be put on the sidelines for a decade.

    18
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    Mute Sea Graham
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    Mar 11th 2020, 6:59 AM

    @Bleurgh: if you think the ffg monarchy are going to lead us through this safely, you’re deluded. Their only concern is their coffers and the one %. Disclaimer: not a shinner.

    28
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    Mute David Glynn
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    Mar 11th 2020, 8:33 AM

    @Bleurgh: Someone gave them a calculator so they could count. In hiding now as the penny dropped

    5
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    Mute David Glynn
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    Mar 11th 2020, 8:35 AM

    @old england is dead: Off you go to Wuhan. They may still have the virus but the stats will say all is rosy. After all it is a dictatorship.

    2
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    Mute David Glynn
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    Mar 11th 2020, 8:36 AM

    @Sea Graham: 100% no SHINNERS. Can’t afford a repeat of the mess they made up north.

    3
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    Mute David Glynn
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    Mar 11th 2020, 8:42 AM

    @David Corrigan: Shin Bot hurling on the ditch.

    1
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    Mute Sea Graham
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    Mar 11th 2020, 9:06 AM

    @David Glynn: what? Compared to the mess ffg made this side of the border?
    The better the devil you know attitude isn’t really working out now is it? We need a complete overhaul of politics in the republic the monopoly isn’t working for us, they are working for themselves and their inner circle of cronies

    10
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    Mute David Corrigan
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    Mar 11th 2020, 9:12 AM

    @David Glynn: You really do need to go and get a real job David. Do yourself and your family proud.

    6
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    Mute David Glynn
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    Mar 11th 2020, 9:53 AM

    @David Corrigan: Worked for my pension. Now have time to right all the wrongs s in the world. When I spot hypocrites I call them out. When I call out the rampant hypocracy of the SF cult I feel better. Would be amazed if you posted anything even slightly critical of SF. Would show you are not a slavish dupe. That’s how you are all found out. So here’s one for you. The Executive they walked out on cost 100 million in abeyance. First thing they did getting back was to restore the full MLA salary and give themselves AN INCREASE OF A 1000 QUID A YEAR. SF continues to avail of the trough to party. That’s over fifty thousand pounds sterling a year while frontline nurses get just over twenty grand. The FFG lark is fun but we can tap into a few billions handy enough to cope with Covoid.

    6
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    Mute David Glynn
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    Mar 11th 2020, 10:03 AM

    @Sea Graham: Tell that to the electorate.

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    Mute Diogenes
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    Mar 11th 2020, 6:39 AM

    Hey don’t worry Leo has his bulldozer ready to get rid of them.

    30
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    Mute Karen Cumiskey
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    Mar 11th 2020, 7:03 AM

    All those empty flats that Dublin city council has – with water, toilet and cooking facilities. Now would be a goid time to take off the boarding and use the 100s of them.

    26
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    Mute Peter Govan
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    Mar 11th 2020, 7:36 AM

    @Karen Cumiskey: A lot of those flats boarded up because they were given to drug addicts who then wrecked them and were removed for selling drugs and anti social behaviours and their facts . Plenty of addicts in tents because of their own behaviours

    56
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    Mute John Killeen
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    Mar 11th 2020, 6:58 AM

    One scenario is that the drop in tourists will see property owners removing their property from Air BnB and going back to long term letting. This will help ease the housing crisis for sure.

    18
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    Mute Sea Graham
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    Mar 11th 2020, 7:17 AM

    @John Killeen: probably not. The rents would still be unaffordable to the average person and the government would release some soundbite while still demanding the huge cut in taxes from the landlords. Landlords are pricing on a supply and demand and yes, there is a lot of greed involved but, a lot of the greed is government too. I’m just thankful that my wife and I managed to escape the clutches of the rental market when we did.

    12
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    Mute David Glynn
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    Mar 11th 2020, 8:40 AM

    @John Killeen: And push those with their first negative equity home making money on Airnb to subsidise their second and main larger family home into more mortgage debt.

    3
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    Mute Simon Fusco
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    Mar 11th 2020, 8:16 AM

    I don’t think anyone has forgotten about the housing crisis they can always remind themselves by looking around there parents living room and see how its been converted to house a family of 3

    7
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    Mute David Glynn
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    Mar 11th 2020, 8:31 AM

    This is one reason why we need a new stable government quickly. SF on the sidelines while the adults engage. NOTHING to contribute with their measly 1692 social houses completed last year up North and 29,000 on the waiting list.
    They told the electorate they would build 100,000 houses in the Republic. Like Troy Parrott at Spurs keep them on the bench.
    And FG must be excluded from health and housing ministries as a given. With a worldwide recession on the cards, Brexit and the Covoid virus no place for amateurish blusterers and incompetents.
    FG delivered a surplus growth economy and full employment so play them in their strong positions and we will continue to be a “Risen” people.

    6
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    Mute Nuala Mc Namara
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    Mar 11th 2020, 9:40 AM

    @David Glynn: FG’s Legacy is ongoing National emergencies in health, homelessness and housing and because of no fight re massive debt(Prof Mody said that the FG Government “blew the opportunity to get debt deal”!) so far interest alone on the debt has been €60B&we have the 3rd highest level of debt per capita in the world!
    We have full employment but 60% earn less than €30,000&75% earn less than €40,000,85% earn less than €50,000,90% earn less than €60,000& 95% earn less than €85,000,99% earn less than €100,000(a recent Report from KBC Bank showed a couple need to be earning €98,000 in order to buy a home in Dublin)…..just 1% earn more than €100,000 &these were the Catergory that SF proposed to add an extra levy to…..not the ‘squeezed middle’ which spin said.
    Government were warned about over-dependence on Corporation tax receipts/leprechaun economics.IFAC also said their medium term projections’not credible”,etc
    These ongoing National emergencies in health, homelessness and housing not only are a threat to the economy as experts have warned but will also make it much more difficult to deal with the Convid19 virus because our health system is already burdened by lack of capacity &overwhelmed,there’s overcrowding in many homes with generations living there unable to afford massive rents or trying to save for deposits and those people and families in emergency accommodation are also vulnerable as they can’t self isolate from the rest of the family and because they have to leave accommodation in morning and can’t access it until evening,they can’t self isolate from the public!
    Now theFG/FF alliance ,which they said provided ‘stability’,since 2016 didn’t act effectively on the ongoing National emergencies we had already in health, homelessness and housing so how have you confidence in them?
    Ireland has 68,693 HOUSEHOLDS on social housing lists,that could be a minimum of 137,386 people-over 200,000 people including children.There are also seperate Transfer lists that I didn’t count.By the way FF&SDs pledged to build 100,000 houses too.
    The Fiscal Space has been shattered now.We have no idea of the impact of the very serious Convid-19 will have over the next year on not just society but on businesses,trade,the economy and I hope if FG&FF form a Government that it is capable of not just urgent response to Convid19 but also is capable of tackling the other ongoing National emergencies here as they are interlinked! Convid19 has just ripped off the sticking plaster put on the other ongoing National emergencies!!

    15
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    Mute David Glynn
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    Mar 11th 2020, 10:02 AM

    @Nuala Mc Namara: For the umpteen time let me tell you that I don’t think the last Government was fit for purpose. We all know that and that’s why they were hammered. But not all bad either.
    But we don’t need the SF cult to replace them . I would prefer if FG were not part of the equation but I am a democrat. We are where we are.
    Give us a few stats on Northern Ireland while you are at it.
    How come you regularly exceed the 800 word posting limit. Now that’s a question you could answer Nuala Buala
    Maybe a different rule for the SF propagandists.

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    Mute Nuala Mc Namara
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    Mar 11th 2020, 10:32 AM

    @David Glynn: Because my comments makes sense!
    You don’t think last Government was fit for purpose even though they were the most powerful Minority Government in history because FF was in alliance with them and had considerable influence over the program for Government……so how are FF/FG fit for purpose this time?!
    You pretend not to support FG but you reveal it with your praise for them on the other hand,that’s ok you can support who you want to whether it’s in the open or hidden,that’s democracy!
    I’m an ordinary voter and my concern for ongoing National emergencies,etc here with no effective urgent response meant I wasn’t going to vote for FF or FG.SF have better policies so I voted for them.Thats my choice and I’m upfront about that!The most important reasons why people voted the way they did was health ,homelessness and housing as Exit Poll showed @58% so those were the main concerns of voters.

    6
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    Mute David Glynn
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    Mar 11th 2020, 12:46 PM

    @Nuala Mc Namara: You could move north to the utopia of lthe Shinners.

    2
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    Mute Mary Ward
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    Mar 11th 2020, 12:49 PM

    @David Glynn: for gods sake grow up and read the eu POST PROGRAMME SURVEILANCE of Ireland capacity to repay loan of 40 billion under terms of deal made by b lenihan as min for finance that td in dail who elect taoiseach decided is not matter for dail and that how fund spent matter for taoiseach and thT ok save when eu say too much spent on health sector as we have this virus and it will continue until voter get on to own td to tell them we are not happy with givt response and up to td and dail to sort it out.

    Eg what point in isolating anywhere if public place not being bleached nightly. How many are getting on buses train darts going intoibraries touching infected areas same for schools care homes hospital and reduce risk of virus spreading.

    1
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    Mute Nuala Mc Namara
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    Mar 11th 2020, 3:20 PM

    @David Glynn: Do you not have confidence in your beloved FG and FF to finally tackle the ongoing National emergencies down here including Convid19?

    2
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    Mute Jjohn Cconway
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    Mar 11th 2020, 11:26 PM

    Not being smart but maybe being homeless and sleeping on the street is the best way to self isolate at the moment

    1
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