Charging homeless people in Waterford for Out-Of-Hours beds would be a 'catastrophe'
Waterford Helping the Homeless say it is already expensive to live on the street. Stock Image.
Charging homeless people for Out-of-Hours beds would be a “catastrophe”, says Waterford Helping the Homeless.
The group was responding to a report by the Waterford News & Star last week that Waterford City and County Council were reviewing their policy on free access to out-of-hours beds at McGwire House.
Following the publication of the report, the News & Star spoke to Waterford Helping the Homeless co-founder Susie Moran, who said being homeless is expensive enough.
“We are here seven days a week, 365 days a year. We have never charged for anything. We don’t expect them to, and they have the best of stuff here.
"But we certainly don’t charge them because we are trying to help them,” said Susie.
We asked a service user at the unit what they thought of the idea, and they said that they would not mind paying a small fee, like €10 a night, if it guaranteed them a bed for the night.
But, they said, beds are not guaranteed at the hostel, leaving homeless people in a constant state of uncertainty throughout the day.
Volunteers and service users at Waterford Helping the Homeless stress that nothing they say is about criticising other services or public representatives. But, homeless people in Waterford are in crisis and need everyone to work together.
Last week's report was a follow-up to a piece published by the paper in February titled 'Real People: This is what it looks like to be homeless in Waterford City'.
In that piece, volunteers and service users expressed concerns about conditions at McGwire House.
Since the original report's publication, service users have reported some improvements at the hostel.
Susie said that those staying at the hostel report that they can now use the showers, and general hygiene issues around bedding and facilities have improved.
“Now, the hygiene seems to have improved. Yeah, thank God because the lads had fresh linen on their beds and there was someone cleaning the showers, which is brilliant. I haven’t heard any complaints since, which is a good sign. So that in and of itself was worth more than anything,” said Susie.
One service user we spoke to confirmed this but said access to cooking facilities has been restricted.
The Waterford News & Star asked Depaul if this was the case.
In response, Depaul confirmed that kitchen service is restricted for those accessing Out-of-Hours beds.
A spokesperson for Depaul said:
"We provide a bed, some basic keyworking, and a small breakfast (there is no charge for this service) as agreed with the Local Authority."
Susie also told us that access to beds has not improved.
“Even up to yesterday, lads were refused access due to some of the rooms closed off or downsizing or whatever they are doing, I don’t know. The lads are not sure either. Only that there was no access."
The Waterford News & Star understands that the “cold-weather room” is currently closed.
This room has two beds and is currently vacant.
This paper reached out to Waterford City and County Council and in response they said they provide 39 beds at the hostel and eight out-of-hours beds.
Depaul provides eight '9 to 9' beds.
A further three beds are provided by the council under the Severe Weather Protocol, which is in operation from November 1 to April 30.
The council said: "Throughout this period, the Outreach Team from Waterford Integrated Homeless Services is in regular contact with any known rough sleepers to advise them of impending weather alerts/freezing temperatures and remind them of the shelter arrangements, which they can avail of."
The News & Star was told that to access out-of-hours and 9 to 9 services, homeless people must put their names down at the hostel at 8pm.
If they are not there, they will not get a bed for the night.
They must then wait until 9pm, outside, on the street, to hear if they have somewhere to sleep for the night.
This uncertainty was one of the biggest issues for the homeless people we spoke to.
In our last report, the Waterford News & Star revealed that the council reviews health, safety and compliance issues annually at McGwire House.
Susie also welcomed this.
“Running a place like that with these men and women, they have to be on the ball 100%. They can’t leave anything slide. These are people’s lives they are dealing with. And vulnerable people, so yeah, I’m glad they are now reviewing it. Maybe they are doing more now than they ever did, which to me is a win-win,” said Susie.
One of the main issues that remains is a lack of visits by elected representatives.
Be it councillors, TDs, or the Mayor himself, Susie said the group would like a visit from the people elected to represent them.
She told us that the Mayor was due to visit in late January, but did not, and no official cancellation was received.
Attempts to contact him have since failed, leaving Waterford Helping the Homeless and their service users feeling forgotten and “let down.”
“So I have no faith in our Mayor. I’m just an ordinary Joe Soap, a normal person, and I’m trying to do my best for the homeless in Waterford, as are the team here. And if the Mayor cannot even acknowledge a phone call, then that is a big red flag to me regarding homeless people and issues that they have and want to address with him,” said Susie.
The Waterford News & Star reached out to Mayor of Waterford Jason Murphy, but no response was received at the time of publication.
When last we spoke, Susie, volunteers and service users told the News & Star that some of the challenges of sleeping on the street included waking up frozen over and trench foot.
But, as the weather improves, new challenges emerge for those walking the streets every day.
The unit has seen a rise in sunburn, and service users struggle to afford water and soft drinks to stay hydrated.
A person walking the streets all day still must carry all their belongings, and this is not sustainable in warm weather. A service user at the unit told us that while toast, snacks and tea are provided to those using the out-of-hours service, meals are not provided.
Homeless people must provide their own meals even if they do not have access to proper cooking facilities, which only adds to the expense.
At the bottom of the Depaul website, there is a notice that a donation of €50 will provide a bed and a bowl of soup for a homeless person for two nights.
Waterford Helping the Homeless is asking the public for donations of sun cream, socks and soft drinks.
Alternatively, you can make a donation on their GoFundMe page.
Susie, the volunteers and the service users thank the public for their continued support.
“And, just to thank the public. They are the ones doing this. We are just the volunteers. That’s the biggest thing for us to thank them,” said Susie.
Out-of-Hours and 9 to 9 are not the only services at McGwire House.
Some residents can stay for an extended period of time.
For this, the Waterford News & Star understands residents pay €80 a week.
But, volunteers and service users at Waterford Helping the Homeless say they don’t know who makes the decision for someone to stay.
Volunteer Alan says there are times when someone in the 9 to 9 service must stay for the good of their health.
“People have to leave the pods at 9am and then are not left in until 9pm, so if you get somebody who is sick, has the flu or something like that, and the weather, they have to find some way to get through them hours until they are let in again and if they don’t get in then they are left out another night,” said Alan.
In response to our query, Depaul says access to both residential and the Out-of-Hours service is by referral from the council.
Vacant beds, they said, are offered on a first-come, first-served basis.
Homelessness comes with a huge amount of stigma.
People who find themselves queuing for a bed outside McGwire House have families and friends and lives before their current circumstances.
Susie points out that those with children may be unable to see them because they have nowhere to take them.
Alan said there is no provision in the homeless services for mental health, and while mental health is a crisis nationwide, being homeless is associated with many conditions, such as depression and addiction.
“For them, it’s just a system in and out. There should be a better foundation for mental health in this country. Especially for people in a homeless situation," said Alan.
Waterford Helping the Homeless feel that, with the help of the council, they could establish a small facility where homeless people could sleep.
Given the premises, they would man the new unit as they do their current base, and this would take the pressure off the existing services.
“We would have pull-out beds, stretcher beds and do fundraising to make sure we had what we needed and then the lads would never be on the street,” said Susie.
Waterford City and County Council say they are not in a position to support Waterford Helping the Homeless as they are not registered as a charity with the national Charities Register of Ireland.
