Homeless accommodation centre comes under fire
'Many residents have serious drug or alcohol addictions'
The management of a homeless accommodation centre near Naas has been criticised.
Green Party councillor Bob Quinn said the Peter McVerry Trust, which operates Kerdiffstown House “is struggling to provide service users with little other than the facility to house them, and on a temporary basis.”
He added: “There are 100 men using the facility, many with serious drug or alcohol addictions and/or mental health problems.”
He claimed that they are not getting the support services set out in agreement between the trust and Kildare County Council.
He said this agreement provided for “a full suite of programmes and activities to the service users to meet their care and support needs” as well as a “project key worker for the duration of their residence.”
He said 60 residents are from Dublin and 40 from Kildare and added that buses drop them into Naas, Johnstown or to Heuston Station “and that seems to be the extent of their day-time options.”
He said there is little progress being made in treating addictions or addressing housing issues.
“Rather they are spending their days in Naas and Johnstown where their problems are all too apparent and are having a negative impact on the people living and working there. Do we want this to become a normal part of life in Naas or Johnstown?”
He said the shortfall in the service being asked for and the service being delivered must be apparent to Kildare Council Council and “needs to be rapidly addressed for the sake of the service users and the people of the area.”
However KCC said it has ongoing engagement with the service for new and existing client referrals and social care workers and support staff employed by the trust provide a key working service to all residents on an ongoing basis.
According to KCC the key worker service identifies ongoing needs of the client and provides assistance in accessing supports such as health needs, mental health care, housing options and addiction support. KCC’s homeless outreach team meets residents and staff in the facility regularly to review housing move-on options for clients and to ensure clients are engaging with supports.
Specialised housing options are provided to clients who require “long term wrap around supports.”
Trust representatives also attend relevant meetings providing interagency support and advice to cases where additional complex needs have been identified.