Homeless presentations in Kilkenny continue to rise as changes in policy proposed

The numbers of people seeking emergency homeless accommodation in Kilkenny continues to rise with record numbers now seeking to avail of the service.

In 2023 there were 539 presentations for emergency accommodation made to Kilkenny County Council compared to 478 in 2022 and 250 presentations in 2021.

Senior Executive Officer at Kilkenny County Council, Michael Leahy told members that no person is allocated emergency accommodation in the Good Shepherd Centre or in any other emergency accommodation without approval from Kilkenny County Council.

“They go through a rigorous and thorough interview to make sure that they are genuinely homeless,” he said.

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At a meeting of the Housing Strategic Policy committee last Thursday a number of proposed changes to Kilkenny County Council’s homeless services policy were also discussed.

One of the proposed changes is that people will not be provided with emergency accommodation in Kilkenny where they have voluntarily left accommodation or involuntarily left accommodation due to minor disputes.

Director of Services Mary Mulholland also told the meeting that another proposed change in policy is around a person presenting to Homeless Services due to relationship breakdown.

“We are not able to cater for marital breakdown. We can’t provide accommodation in those circumstances unless there is an issue around safety,” she said.

Ms Mulholland told the meeting that if someone presents because of a relationship breakdown they must provide formal legal documentation that identifies the reason that they are prevented from returning to their place of residence.”

Another proposed change in policy centres around young people presenting to Homeless Services from a foster placement. It is now proposed that the young person must be accompanied by their aftercare social care worker to discuss the reasons why they cannot remain at home, and are willing to engage with supports offered to resolve presenting difficulties.

“Our priority is to maintain capacity at The Good Shepherd Hostel, at Amber Women’s refuge and our beds in the Hoban Hotel. We had 888 HAP properties and now we are down to under 600. The pathway out of emergency accommodation is getting smaller and smaller,” she said.

Ms Mulholland also said that under proposal centres around the withdrawal of emergency homeless services for a minimum of four weeks in a situation where a person fails to use their emergency accommodation without the prior agreement of the service provider or homeless co-ordinator during working hours.

“These changes are targeted and they are equitable and fair,” she said adding that the service providers were ‘doing a lot right in difficult circumstances.

Lisa Morris, manager of Amber Women’s refuge commended the work done by Kilkenny County Council in the area of homelessness.

Homeless Services in Kilkenny are co-ordinated by Kilkenny Homeless Action Team (KHAT) who meet weekly to co-ordinate an inter-agency response to the support needs and case management of homeless people and individuals at risk of becoming homeless.

Senior Executive Officer with Kilkenny County Council Michael Leahy also remarked that it is ‘a big challenge’ to find an exit strategy for people in emergency accommodation because of the lack of private rented accommodation in Kilkenny City.
Kilkenny County Council, Amber Women’s Refuge, gardaí, Department of Social Protection, Focus Ireland, Good Shepherd Centre, HSE Adult Mental Health Services, HSE Community Addiction Services, St. Vincent de Paul and TUSLA form the membership of KHAT. The proposed changes will go before members of Kilkenny County Council for further discussion.