A charity provided emergency accommodation for an extra 32 homeless families in Dublin last year, its annual report showed recently.
A record 205 families took refuge in The Salvation Army’s three family hubs across the capital, compared to 173 in 2022.
The 2023 report shows that in Houben House (Harold’s Cross), Clonard Road (Crumlin) and Greencastle (Coolock), a combined 76,000 meals were served to parents and children.
Young mother Chloe Coffey, 25, is among the new residents at Houben House.
A problem with the creche attended by her son Jackson, four, who suffers from a life-limiting heart condition, forced her to leave her job, meaning she was unable to afford her €2,700/monthly rent.
She recently outlined her plight directly to Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien and party leaders during a housing special on RTE 1’s Upfront programme.
“I left my job and just could not sustain the rent and I had to declare myself homeless,” she said.
“I’m very grateful to have somewhere over my head but you can’t cook a meal and supervise your child in a communal kitchen, you can’t do both at once.
“I don’t even want to get up in the mornings, I’m constantly crying, then (my son) is wondering ‘why is mammy always upset?’”
Staff in the church and charity’s three family and three adult-only hubs (Granby Centre, York House and Rease House) work to alleviate the pressure of homelessness through a wide range of activities organised for residents.
These include programmes to prepare them for independent living, employment schemes, stress reduction activities, walking groups and support groups based on the Twelve Steps of Recovery programme.
“Despite the enormous difficulties, our families work hard to see beyond their current circumstances, engage with our services and work towards a better future for themselves and their children,” said The Salvation Army’s Divisional Commander in Ireland, Marion Rouffet.
“There are many different issues related to homelessness that will prevent people from living to their full potential; lack of adequate housing options, financial difficulties, mental health challenges and language barriers.
“We work on all these issues to help people move forward in their lives.
“Our dedicated staff work with housing agencies to find suitable accommodation and we also design and deliver several classes and workshops to help people learn about budgeting, healthy eating and other skills vital for life beyond the family hub.”
The annual report also reveals that staff at some of the homeless family hubs are sometimes at risk of ‘compassion fatigue’, due to their work with individuals exposed to trauma.
Prolonged interactions can have a significant impact on mental and physical health and is counteracted by a Health and Wellbeing Policy for staff.
The charity also runs an active chaplaincy service, which offers pastoral support to residents, staff and families.
The Salvation Army, funded by the Dublin Region Homeless Executive and the HSE, is one of the largest providers of emergency accommodation in Dublin, providing more than 250,000 bed nights a year across its six lifehouses.
