Rough sleepers at risk warning as mercury falls

HOMELESS charities voiced fears yesterday about health risks to those on the streets amid snow and ice weather alerts.

Yesterday Met Eireann issued a week-long warning for freezing conditions as temperatures were set to plummet to -5C last night.

A spokesperson for St Vincent de Paul told the Irish Mirror: “We are concerned at the impact the current cold snap will have on the homeless and those already struggling to keep their homes warm.”

SVP last year received 20,000 calls seeking help with energy and utility bills, while another 33,000 calls were from people struggling with both food and energy costs.

Labour leader Ivana Bacik TD, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said: “The impact of this long cold spell is deeply concerning on the thousands of people who are homeless across the country.

“Many of them are sleeping rough on the streets, in tents, or in overcrowded emergency accommodation.

“It is particularly concerning when we know from recent figures that there are 4,000 children in emergency accommodation at this time.

“This requires an immediate and compassionate response from the Government.”

Department of Housing figures for last year showed that up to 120 people slept rough on Dublin streets during the winter months.

A homeless man was found dead in a street in the capital last Tuesday.

Dublin homeless organisation A Lending Hand said the tragedy was the first official recording of a rough sleeper death in the new year.

Its director Keira Gill appealed to the homeless not to sleep out outside overnight when temperatures are at their lowest.

She urged homeless people to “engage with [charities] for beds” and added: “We have never seen it as busy as it is right now.”

To help during the colder weather, the charity provides food for 450 people every week in Dublin, while last October, the City Council added 330 new permanent beds.

There are 40 extreme weather beds in non-governmental organisation services.

Housing Department figures released this month showed a record number of homeless, with 13,514 people, including 9,409 adults and a new high of 4,105 children accessing emergency accommodation in November.

Dublin Region Homeless Executive said there are sufficient beds to provide emergency accommodation for homeless people in the capital.

Focus Ireland chief Pat Dennigan said: “This must be the year the Government makes a different approach to homelessness and uses all available resources to reduce the number of people who are homeless.”

Anyone needing homeless accommodation can contact the Central Placement Service on

1800 707 707 and download the Rough Sleeper Alert app.

Met Eireann issued a snow and ice warning for counties Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Louth, and Monaghan, which was in place until 11am today.

The UK’S Met Office has a Status Yellow snow and ice warning in place for the North and that also ends at 11am today.

Bookmakers Ladbrokes is offering odds of just 1/2 that this month will be the coldest on record.

The firm is also quoting 8/1 that Ireland reaches its lowest temperature ever this month.