The hardship facing many migrant workers is becoming increasingly evident in the queues outside soup kitchens and drop-in centres in the Dublin area. While the vast majority of workers who come here from Eastern Europe find employment, a significant number do not. This newspaper reported on Saturday the experiences of many immigrant workers who are sleeping rough or relying on homeless agencies for food, clothing or shelter.
No one can definitely measure the extent of the problem, although all groups working in the sector acknowledge that it is growing. The Homeless Agency, a partnership body which co-ordinates services for homeless people in Dublin, says that demand for food and advice services has increased noticeably among service providers since last year. The Polish embassy estimates that up to 600 of its citizens may be accessing services for homesless people. Some drop-in centres report a doubling in overall numbers over the past year.
Many unemployed migrants come totally unprepared for the cost of living here and find that their savings are used up within days or weeks. In addition, the language barrier can prove too big a hurdle for those who speak little or no English. Others may find themselves out of a job through no fault of their own and then unable to find new employment.
Access to social welfare would normally provide a crucial safety net for people in these circumstances. However, the Government's restrictions on access for people not habitually resident in the State is adding to the hardship experienced by some workers. Worryingly, while most migrants tend to experience homelessness on a temporary basis, there are signs of some becoming entrenched in a longer-term cycle of deprivation.
While homeless agencies have played a vital role in supporting migrant workers, the Government's response has been lethargic. The Department of Social and Family Affairs says that a review of the Habitual Residency Condition will not be completed until the end of the year and there is still no Government department with responsibility for the welfare of migrant workers who are not habitually resident here.
Given the number of new migrants continuing to arrive in Ireland, there is an urgent need for a planned and co-ordinated response to this emerging issue. It took years for the Government to summon up the political will to tackle homelessness among the Irish population in a meaningful way. This time, the Government has a chance to help prevent the emergence of a new underclass if it acts quickly enough.