Homeless Hostel Closure ‘Absolute Madness’ says Crowe

Dublin South West representative Seán Crowe TD has described the proposed closure of the Brú Aimsir homeless hostel in the middle of a housing crisis as “absolute madness.”

The 100 bed hostel is located in Thomas Street, Dublin and was due for closure at the end of April, but has been given another month’s reprieve.

Deputy Seán Crowe said:

“We know from official statistics and from our own eyes that the homeless situation in Dublin is going from bad to worse. Rents are escalating with an average property  costing €1464 a month up 8.8% according to Daft.ie,  hotel accommodation is not available and the social housing building programme is not fit for purpose.

“There is no sense of urgency no huge outrage and the numbers of homeless individuals and families keep escalating.

“The April rough sleeper count in Dublin found 102 people sleeping on the streets and on the same night there was no emergency accommodation available anywhere in Dublin for the homeless to go.

“It is absolute madness then that news is now emerging that 100 bed Brú Aimsir hostel in Dublin’s Thomas Street is due to close.

“There is no place to accommodate the 100 people currently sleeping in Brú Aimsir and if it closes then they will end up back on the streets.

“The Brú Aimsir hostel was opened supposedly on a temporary basis as part of a cold weather initiative during the winter but it has in reality become a permanent hostel run by the homeless charity Crosscare.

“It is a farce and simply not acceptable that this facility would be closed down before the 100 available places are provided for elsewhere. The new housing Minister Simon Coveney needs to act with urgency and intervene to stop this closure. We should be opening more facilities and particularly in the suburbs not closing existing facilities. The newly elected government claims homelessness is a
priority for them, now is the time for them to to prove it.” ENDS