Homeless charity not able to feed the needy

SECURITY restrictions in place for Pope Francis’s visit to Dublin will make it harder for charities to feed homeless people, it has been claimed.

Glenda Harrington, of the voluntary group Friends Helping Friends, said it had been told its crew of volunteers, who handed out free food, hot drinks and other essentials to the homeless, would not be allowed to set up as usual on Saturday night.

Volunteers normally set up a stand outside the Londis shop on Westmoreland Street, where they cater for around 300 people.

But due to road closures and other security measures in place for the pontiff ’s 36-hour visit, they wouldn’t be allowed to operate, she told RTÉ Radio One’s ‘Today with Miriam O’Callaghan’ yesterday.

“We’re not allowed to set up or go out,” she said.

“Gardaí said it’s a crowdcontrol problem.”

But homeless people have contacted the charity to say they are worried.

“They don’t know where they’ ll eat,” she said.

Meanwhile, the Dublin Region Homeless Executive will use the same contingency plans during the papal visit as it did during Storm Ophelia. Extra staff and outreach teams would be on hand to engage with rough sleepers, it said.

The DRHE has also sourced a large number of additional temporary units or rooms to cater for families presenting as homeless and in need of temporary emergency placement. These include several units suitable for large families.

Extra staff will also man the helpline for people in need.