The forgotten men of the crisis
ADDICTS ARE BEING LEFT ISOLATED DUE TO THE CORONAVIRUS CRISIS
They have been described as the forgotten men of the Covid-19 crisis in Sligo, those battling addictions but who have nowhere to live.
One young man was given a tent and a sleeping bag last week by a local charity.
Crucial services are closed such as rehabilitation services and night shelters, leading to many people struggling with addiction being left on the street.
“Nobody is taking anybody in, they can’t get a night in a hostel, everybody’s doors are closed and these people are cast onto the street, they’re left to die,” said Aubrey Melville of the charity, Social Groundforce which was set up to help those working in suicide prevention and addiction recovery.
The problem was highlighted at last Thursday’s sitting of Sligo District Court by Judge Kevin Kilrane who said immediate help was needed for people requiring emergency accommodation services.
The judge said it was extremely difficult at present for people without a place to call home as all of the usual places they could go to were closed.
“No one wants them,” he said.
THEY are the forgotten people of Sligo during the Covid-19 crisis - the homeless and those battling to overcome addiction.
According to Aubrey Melville of charity, Social Groundforce crucial services are closed such as rehabilitation services and night shelters, leading to many people struggling with addiction being left on the street.
The CEO of the charity working in suicide prevention and addiction recovery told The Sligo Champion:
“Nobody is taking anybody in, they can’t get a night in a hostel, everybody’s doors are closed and these people are cast onto the street, they’re left to die.”
Mr Melville said currently he is aware of five to six people homeless in the Sligo area and though seeking accommodation for people is not within Social Groundforce’s remit, the charity is helping people secure some sort of a home.
“That’s the problem with Covid, people are being cast aside.”
Mr Melville said he helped a man who was in court in Sligo recently who had nowhere to stay as hostels could not take him in due to the pandemic.
“He couldn’t get into a shelter. Where do these people go? They go into court and they have to be sent out onto the street again. They’re in a squirrel cage. Judge Kevin Kilrane is not happy with the current situation,” said Mr Melville, who managed to source a tent for the man.
It is hoped accommodation for him will be sponsored by a local businessman in the coming days. “It’s unbelievably bad out here...We’re working with a man and got him a tent, took him out of Sligo to keep him away from trouble. He’s now in his seventh day sober, it does work, if you get the right accommodation, hopefully we’ ll have something for him.”
Mr Melville said at the recent court sitting such was the judge’s concern about the man’s current situation and lack of help, the judge commented that the man was ‘dying’ and there was nowhere to place him. “He’s not dying now, he’s trying his best.” Mr Melville said statistics show that 65% of suicides are linked to alcohol, meaning 7 in 10 people were dealing with addiction.
“If that’s the case we need to go to the root of the problem, that’s where we’re very succcesful, times where we do assist people.” Mr Melville said when people are left on the street they come to the attention of gardaí and end up in the courts, only to be back on the street again because there is no place for them. He says there are currently nine counties in Ireland which do not have adequate addiction services, including Sligo, and at the moment Social Groundforce is doing what it can with limited means.
“You can’t get people detoxed without proper services, you need a service that is accessible 24/7, 365 days a year.”
The charity founder referred to a building at Finisklin which he believes could be beneficial to the work of Social Groundforce.He believes a part of Kazalean House could be used as bricks and mortar for the charity to work with addiction sufferers and says now more than ever that is needed.
“They’re the forgotten people of Ireland,” he reiterates. “Kazalaen house on Finisklin Road has been let rot. The back end could be used for what we do. These people are dying and politicians are talking about who owns it. We’re run off our feet and we don’t have any money and nowehere to operate from.
“No effort is going into addiction problems. Imagine if the same effort was being made to tackle addiction as is being done now for Covid,” Mr Melville asked.
Working with up to six homeless people at the moment, he says Social Grounforce also works with up to 20 people who are dealing with addiction, and their family members. Not only does Social Groundforce work with individuals in Sligo, but also in Donegal, Leitrim and Mayo.
There are a lot suffering in many different ways during Covid 19, there’s going to be a heavy price to pay at a later stage. There’s a nightmare coming behind this.”
He added, “Politicians and leaders talk of the invisible enemy being Covid 19, but addiction is the invisible enemy.”
Mr Melville stresses that Social Groundforce cannot be the go to for sourcing accommodation for people as it is out of the charity’s remit, but said people can be helped with their addiction to help keep them off the streets. He said people suffering with addictions need proper access to help to understand their addiction.
“There has to be a door that’s open all the time.”