Crosscare, the social care agency, is to close a 14-bed night shelter for homeless men in Dublin.
The agency said the old-style dormitory shelter in Longford Lane, which was opened 9 years ago as a “stop-gap response to homelessness", fails to provide adequate accommodation for its clients.
The shelter’s regular users, some of whom have been staying there for more than 4 years, will be moved to a purpose-built centre on St James’s Street, operated by the De Paul Trust, with 24 hour support.
Crosscare director, Conor Hickey said: "When it comes to homelessness in Dublin, we have been making do for too long, the old-style dormitory accommodation of Longford Lane had become home for our clients, when it was meant to be an emergency service."
Mr Hickey said Crosscare is firmly committed to the provision of long term homes for people who are currently trapped in sub-standard emergency provision.
"Keeping people for long periods of time in emergency accommodation must stop. In times of tightening resources we need to be innovative and work together with the statutory services and other NGO's to create more of these homes."
Crosscare has seen a significant rise in demand for its services in recent times, despite the relative prosperity of the economy.
Last year the agency provided 45,000 bed nights to homeless people, an increase of 40 per cent over 3 years. It also provided 90,000 hot meals to those in need.Crosscare’s annual church appeal will be held in all Catholic churches in Dublin this weekend.
The appeal was launched by Archbishop Diarmuid Martin at a Mass for Crosscare staff in Dublin's Pro Cathedral this morning.
Archbishop Martin said: “Prosperity has not always brought with it greater social concern.”
“As our prosperity is challenged in economically difficult times, we must work to see that social concern is not replaced with self-concern,” he said.
