Homelessness & Homeless Services in Ballinasloe

While there is no specific breakdown of homeless numbers for Ballinasloe. Homeless figures for Galway County and City in April 2021 showed 255 persons3 were homeless.

Homeless Services/Homelessness

While homelessness may not be visible in numbers of rough sleepers on the streets of Ballinasloe, there is a hidden homelessness problem. The Simon Community established a base in Ballinasloe in 2011 and since then, demand for services has increased and this has been magnified during the Covid-19 crisis. The Simon Community based in Ballinasloe offer a Drop-In service (which became by appointment during Covod-19) and also take referrals by phone and online. They provide a range of supports and services, some which require only a brief intervention and in other cases, deal with more complex cases.

3 Homelessness Data, Department of Housing available here: https://assets.gov.ie/136251/d731f6be-28e64cb6-865e-308019e7062a.pdf

They are working to full capacity and they are overworked while also being underfunded.

On average per month, the service in Ballinasloe receives around 25-30 referrals outside of the typical brief interventions they make on a somewhat daily basis.

The Simon Community have highlighted the lack of available private rented accommodation in Ballinasloe, the level of hidden homelessness and the need for wrap-around supports as delivered through the Housing First Programme which is currently being rolled out in County Galway. Housing First is a person-centred model that focuses on ending homelessness for people who have been long term homeless or who are particularly vulnerable. It sees persons provided with their own secure accommodation as well as providing access to intensive and specialised support services.

Recommendations:

 Set a date within the lifetime of the Government, to end long term homelessness  Increase funding for local homeless services relied on by Local Authorities such as the Simon Community  Double the provision of Housing First housing allocations  Limit the length of time any person can stay in emergency accommodation to a maximum of 6 months  Increase funding for domestic violence refuge provision to meet need within the lifetime of the Government  Retain Rent Supplement as a permanent support for domestic abuse survivors