Complaints of cockroaches, bed bugs in emergency housing

Complaints about cockroaches, mice, bed bugs and bloodstained mattresses were among those made to the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive by people it placed in hotels, bed & breakfast facilities and other emergency accommodation.

Some of the 800 families living in temporary accommodation last year also reported mould, leaking water and faulty electrics.

Some rooms in which they were accommodated were described as cramped, damp, dirty and unsafe.

Details of more than 100 complaints submitted last year to the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive were revealed on Monday by RTÉ on foot of a freedom of information request.

Anti-social behaviour

RTÉ reported that health and safety, anti-social behaviour and child welfare were among the issues raised by some of those placed in temporary accommodation last year.

Drug -taking, drinking and anti-social and intimidating behaviour by other residents also featured among the complaints.

Some residents also complained of their treatment by staff working in the accommodation provided.

Some people who said they had been asked to leave or who had been removed from accommodation without being given any reason contended this was because they had raised concerns about conditions.

RTÉ reported that other complaints included a house manager who sought to borrow money from clients, clients being requested to do housework or work as cleaning staff, difficulty accessing the accommodation due to absent or unreliable porters and not being given essential supplies such as toilet rolls, towels and bedding for days, if not weeks.

In another case, an accommodation provider displayed the names of all the residents alongside their PPS numbers.

The documents released maintained that one resident who complained was told this had been a mistake but if they did not like it “you know where to go”.

The issue of accommodation provided being attached to pubs was also raised.

Poor accommodation

A public health nurse who said she has seen her fair share of poor accommodation said many families reported being unable to sleep and feeling unsafe in their room.

Parents also complained, according to the documents, about having to share one bed or mattress with several children because of a lack of space for other beds or cots.

Sam McGuinness of the Dublin Simon community described the revelations as “sickening”.

He said because there was such a scarcity of accommodation, people were being compromised in relation to the conditions they were being offered.

“People are taking accommodation where they can get it. It is either that or the streets,” he said.

Mr McGuinness said he had no doubt local authorities were not knowingly placing people in sub-standard accommodation. “We have a serious housing issue in this city and it is spreading to the rest of the country and so far none of the initiatives have made a difference.”