Concern expressed over number of homeless children
CONCERN was expressed by Councillors at Monday’s monthly meeting of Wicklow County Council over the number of children who are deemed homeless in the Garden County.
Having read the manager’s monthly report updating members on Council activities, including homeless numbers, Cllr Grace McManus was alarmed to see a noticeable rise each month.
‘ There are 71 children down as homeless this month and every month the figures seem to go up. Child homelessness should be an agenda item every month in my opinion, until the figure is actually zero.’
She also sought an update on plans to turn the old Sonas building in Wicklow town into a homeless hub.
Cllr Lourda Scott requested that the figures be broken down each month to give the elected members a better idea of how long people were finding themselves without accommodation.
She said: ‘ The homeless figure for children this month is 71. It’s hard to get a grip on what these figures mean. Could we instead have a breakdown each month of how long they are on the homeless list?’
County Chief Executive Frank Curran, in response, said a lot of work went on in trying to assist people facing homelessness, from dealing with the existing landlord to getting them into the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme.
There are currently 14 adults and 14 children in emergency accommodation in County
Wicklow. Another 25 adults and 28 children are being housed in some of the Council’s own housing stock.
‘We have some of the lowest homelessness figures in the region but it involves an awful lot of work,’ said Mr Curran.
He added that the Cold Weather Initiative was now active. Some works were required to the vacant building previously run by Sonas before it is passed over to the relevant body.