'Lives are at risk'- Kilkenny homeless shelter gives warning during freezing cold snap
An extra 26 emergency beds have been provided across Kilkenny, Carlow and Tipperary in attempts to save lives during freezing weather conditions
The Good Shepherd Centre, is working tirelessly in recent days to help keep homeless people off the streets of Carlow, Kilkenny and surrounding areas as temperatures plummet.
The homeless shelter, based in Kilkenny, have recently reported that they have successfully operated an extra 26 emergency beds across Carlow, Kilkenny and Tipperary in attempts to save lives during freezing weather conditions.
In a post on Facebook, the homeless centre said: "As temperatures plunge, lives are at risk.
"When extreme cold hits, the Cold Weather Initiative (CWI) is activated — a coordinated response between local authorities and charities to protect people experiencing homelessness from illness, hypothermia and death.
The 26 additional emergency beds provided by the centre in recent times does not include the 51 emergency hostel beds and 107 emergency family and single-person placements already in operation within the centre.
Chairperson, Liam Keane, said: “Activating 26 temporary beds across four venues, on top of our existing emergency services, is a remarkable achievement by our staff.
"But let us be clear, this cannot become the norm. Emergency beds save lives, but they are not a solution. Everyone deserves a permanent home".