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A NEW €30 million medical centre for Dublin’s homeless population should be constructed by 2024, after being beset by delays caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The new 100-bed facility, which is to be located at Usher’s Island, will be partially funded by the Department of Housing and will be operated by the Dublin Simon Community.
Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien visited the site this week.
The chief executive of Dublin Simon Community, Sam McGuinness, said he was “delighted” that work will soon commence at the facility, which will deliver a range of services including detox and rehabilitation.
While Dublin Simon Community has provided medical and treatment services to the city’s homeless community from Usher’s Island since 2002, it is expected that this new centre will be able to provide a more extensive range of supports.
“It has been a challenge to get to this point and today is marks an important milestone in the lives of those who have come through our treatment services and those who have yet to come to our door,” McGuinness said.
The Covid-19 pandemic has brought fresh challenges for homeless people, homelessness services and charities have worked for the last 18 months to protect the most vulnerable individuals from the virus.
Even before the pandemic, organisations like Dublin Simon Community were under increasing pressure.
The charity’s own figures show that in 2019, it saw an 18% increase in demand for homeless healthcare services, with nearly 1,300 people treated overall that year.
The charity has also warned that waiting times for treatment for homeless people has seen an “overwhelming increase”.
“The medical needs of the homeless population are increasingly complex and the delivery of a service of this size and quality is a testament to our commitment to improve outcomes for this vulnerable cohort,” McGuinness added.
The Housing Minister said it was a “significant development”.
“Simon Communities have been a really important part of my taskforce on homelessness through their chief executive and the team,” he added.
Thankfully we are seeing reductions, particularly child and family homelessness, we are down about 47% over the last 12 months. We are down overall (homelessness) just short of 20%. It’s still too high, there is no questions about that.
“You will see when we publish our Housing for All plan in the next few weeks, I will look at ramping up the social housing delivery.”
Asked why the government delayed the publication of its major strategy on housing, O’Brien said he wants to have a plan that works.
“I want to have a plan that people understand, that is costed and is deliverable,” he added. “It’s challenging but it will be published in the coming weeks.
Around 4% or 5% of the plan on Housing for All just needs to be nailed down further, there is some work we are doing on that. The finances have been agreed. For the sake of a few weeks I have no bother taking any punches in that regard as it’s important we get it right.
“There is a bit more work to do on vacancy and I want to us be able to utilise the stock that is there already.”
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The greatest inadvertant mistake the founders of the USA made. They put that in to defend themselves in shakier times but it has been so badly baztardized that gobsheens like Trump and NRA lobbyists hold huge sway now with no end in sight either.
Actually they got it pretty OK all things considered. The bit the NRA like to leave out is the “organised militia” part. You can expect to pull their heads in though now that videos of the like of The Black Panthers are doing the rounds showing them brandishing long rifles with large capacity clips. That sort of thing scares the bejesus out of your average white republican.
Around 80 Americans die per day from gun violance, I wouldn’t exactly describe thst factt as getting it right. If IS could kill 80 Americans per day they would be pretty happy but when Americans kill 80 Americans daily with guns it’s seen as a constitutional right. Some right.
What a clever country. Do they really think that two groups opposing each other who are legally armed is a good idea. A Mexican stand-off I think it’s called.
Guns and angry people don’t mix…and they don’t even have to hide the fact that they have guns..Clever Country indeed.
Will Trump allow the Mexicans in for the standoff?
i think a mexican standoff is where there are three armed participants, or so i recall from the good the bad and the ugly
Correct, although my point of reference is Reservoir Dogs” (no *actual* Mexicans as far as I’m aware)
Technically a Mexican Stand off is where neither party can walk away without incurring injury. Traditionally it’s three parties but it can be two..
thanks Paddy, that does make sense, ill still picture clint, that rather grubby looking chap and the other one i cant remember though
Eli Wallach and Lee Van Cleef….
When you preach politics of hate and fear you reap what you sow. Does anyone think this is the way forward?
how could i forget lee van cleef. im hanging my head
Ohios laws state that open carry is OK so why won’t Trump allow Americans their constitional rights in the arena itself. Is this the start of his clampdown on American rights and wouldn’t he be safer if everyone is allowed to be armed inside in case of an attack.
If Democrat protesters behave themselves there’ll be no need for guns.
Otherwise it could end up like the OK Corral….and my money’s on the Trump Gang.
You sir, are a g0bshite!
Aoife, because it is the secret service that made the decision. They are kind of sensitive about firearms around US presidents, elected representatives and presumptive presidential Nominees
@Osine.
And you sir are an annoyance.
A guy in the crowd pulls out a gun, is he a good guy about to stop a bad guy you can’t see, or a bad guy? Do tell.
I don’t believe that. I reckon it’s an attempt by the government to roll back on the 2nd amendment. Really or just shows the hypocritical nature of a Trump campaign, he says that more guns are needed but just not when he’s around.
It has been the case at every party convention since the early 80′s
Wayne doesn’t matter. Trump says he’ll make America great again and I presume that includes allowing open carry and stopping govt interference in citizens affairs. He should allow all the conventions to have guns and if republicans are armed it’ll stop any crazy democratic party people.
Presidential security is the job of the secret service, the president does not get to over ride them. If he did they would not be able to do their job
Open carry doesnt allow people to pull a gun pn someone. Its there to negate violence.
very low on grey matter
Leftists want to stage a peaceful protest? Lol we’ll wait.
lol
These gun totin right wing NRA crazies are the US version of ISIS. The sad part is so many people in the US see no wrong in their almost mediaeval gun laws.
Hilary Clinton is a gun totin political hawk of the highest order yet seemingly Democrats have no problem votin for her.
Go figure.
Actually lots Of Democrats have major problems with Hilary.
Judging by the belligerent behaviour of leftie Democrats at previous rallies the Republicans have every right to arm themselves.
And defend themselves if necessary.
See comment above.
I did.
And I’m not impressed.
Somehow I don’t think the intent of the comment was to impress
Yes, they have the right to prove once and for all that they are the biggest terrorists of all. The biggest killers of Americans in the world.
“Trump dominated a divisive and unruly primary season, infuriating minority groups, antagonising many people within his own party, and drawing violence to his campaign rallies.”
Democrats have consistently behaved like spoiled kids having tantrums and violently attacking Trump supporters.
And yet people consistently blame the victims of this violence, how about snowflakes take responsibility for their own actions? Even an assassination attempt against him doesn’t seem to have raised any eyebrows.
Trump has shown the liberal monkeys up for what they are.
Trump has shown the world how far a fart in a brown paper bag can go
It’s a bad idea when the government have all the arms and citizens have none…eventually that scenario will end badly too.
Yep. Having an armed populace keeps the government in check!
if you live in the 18th century then yes, yes it does
The Tru(m)pPence Conference!!!!… Special Correspondent Mark Tanner!!
Open carrying of guns at a Trump rally….what could possibly go wrong.
Democrats arrive.
Everyone should point their gun at him in the convention and ask him how he feels.
have your say