EX-FAIRFIELD PARK MAN (66) IS NOW SLEEPING ON A FRIEND’S SOFA
A FORMER resident of Fairfield Park in Greystones is dividing his nights between a friend’s sofa and his daughter’s home.
Seamus Shannon was a resident of the estate for a number of years before residents were given notice to quit in August 2016. That notice period came to an end in August 2017.
His daughter Joanne said that there isn’t room for Seamus in her home full time. ‘He minds my children two days a week and stays here those nights. The rest of the time he’s on the sofa of a friend on Sea Road,’ she said.
The 66-year-old is priced out of the market in the area, even with any entitlements, she said, with the average rent of a one-bed property in the area around €1,100 to €1,200 per month.
‘He’s care of my address for postal purposes, and his belongings are stored here, but he has not been housed,’ she said.
She said that the council and a Simon Community representative assigned to Fairfield had been very helpful, but ultimately unable to find accommodation for Seamus.
‘He’s from Kilcoole, he’s lived all his life in Kilcoole,’ said Joanne. ‘He is very frustrated and down.’
His daughter said that she has contacted the council since the move from Fairfield, but has not heard from the Simon Community worker.
The family were responding to a recent report released by Wicklow County Council in which they announced that all of the Fairfield residents had been housed.
Mr Shannon was one of six people on the report whom the council said were housed ‘with family’.
There were 48 households at Fairfield before its closure. The council engaged with the landlord and residents and engaged the services of a housing support worker, setting up a site clinic.
The team liaised with social workers, Gardai, legal services, Tusla, medical and addiction services, Department of Social Protection and Approved Housing Bodies.
In the report, the council said that the households moved to a mix of social housing, private rented accommodation, to family, rental schemes, and purchased housing. Sadly, two residents have died.