Vacant Waterford presbytery set for new life as homeless women's centre

A vacant Presbytery in Waterford City is set to be renovated and converted into a centre for women in homelessness under a government scheme designed to return vacant buildings into active use.

St John’s Presbytery on Parnell Street in Waterford has been approved for renovation under a pilot project under the Repair and Leasing Scheme (RLS) to convert vacant lots into emergency accommodation, the Minister for Housing James Browne, along with Waterford TD and Minister of State John Cummins announced. 

Following its conversion, the building will be adapted to provide nine standalone apartments, six emergency units and a meeting room to provide support services to the residents. The centre will be operated by Tinteán Housing Association for up to 15 women experiencing homelessness, with the building expected to be available for occupation by April 2026, the Department said.

Under the RLS scheme, funding of up to €80,000 per unit is available. The St John’s Presbytery renovation project is set to receive up to €1,200,000 due to it delivering 15 housing units. This sum is set to be repaid over the lifetime of the lease as a reduction in the lease payment, according to the Department. 

The Minister for Housing, Local Government, and Heritage, James Browne said he was "pleased to issue approval for this project", noting that it would provide accommodation to "15 women experiencing homelessness and enable Tinteán, an experienced homeless service provider, to work with these women towards their exit from homelessness".

"Those experiencing homelessness are my top priority. I am committed to using any means at my disposal to make a difference and this innovative use of the repair and leasing scheme reflects that.” 

This is a new departure for the Repair and Leasing Scheme, which has previously been used to provide long-term homes for households that qualify for social housing.

Waterford's John Cummins, Minister of State at the Department for Housing, said, "As a local TD, I am delighted to see this project, which I have worked extensively on with all stakeholders, move forward."

Minister of State Cummins said: "As well as providing a much-needed service to some of the most vulnerable in our city, the development will give new life to this historic building, which has been vacant for many years and act as a catalyst for regeneration in this central location area of Waterford City.

The Fine Gael TD described the St John’s Presbytery as an "ideal" candidate for the homelessness service, "Within the setting of the Old Presbytery, Tintean will be able to offer individual living quarters for the women who access their complex and medium support services, thus affording them the anonymity and personal space to focus on their individual and personalised programmes."

Waterford City and County Council welcomed the news of the approval of funding from the Department of Housing for the project, with Helena Dennehy, Director of Services, saying that "Waterford has a robust track record in delivering units under the Repair and Leasing scheme and we are looking forward to a continuing working relationship in the homeless areas with service providers Tinteán."

Recent figures from the Department of Housing showed that Waterford City and County Council has produced more renovated units under the RLS scheme in the country.