Autistic Girl Left in Tent During Freezing Temperatures
A Dublin-based voluntary group, A Lending Hand, has raised alarm over the plight of rough sleepers, including an autistic girl forced to live in a tent during -2°C conditions. The organisation’s founder, Keira Gill, said repeated attempts to secure emergency accommodation had been met with “radio silence” for three weeks, leaving vulnerable people exposed to life-threatening cold.
Government Response and Cold Weather Strategy
The Department of Housing insists its cold weather strategy is fully operational across all local authorities. In Dublin, where the majority of rough sleepers reside, the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive has activated measures providing 250 additional permanent beds, with a further 76 beds available under extreme weather protocols when warnings are triggered.
Officials say the arrangements, introduced annually in November, are designed to ensure temporary beds can be deployed quickly across existing facilities. Funding has been allocated, and local authorities have discretion over the number of beds and their period of operation, however the critical lapse in timing reduces the immense benefits this strategy would have delivered.
Gaps in Access and Timing
Despite these assurances, Gill argues the system is failing those most in need. She highlighted that while beds are available during the day, after 10pm the freephone service closes, leaving rough sleepers unable to access emergency accommodation overnight. “Putting on 200 beds during the day between 10am and 10pm is fine, but after 10pm, there is no way for anyone to access emergency accommodation,” she said.
Broader Crisis in Homelessness
The case underscores the wider challenges facing Ireland’s homeless population. Charities warn that temporary measures are insufficient when vulnerable individuals, including those with disabilities, remain outside in freezing conditions. Advocates argue that the lack of accessible, round-the-clock emergency accommodation is inhumane and preventable, and risks worsening health outcomes for those already living on the margins.
Outlook
The clash between official assurances and frontline realities has reignited debate over Ireland’s homelessness policies. With temperatures dropping and shelters stretched, campaigners are calling for urgent reforms to ensure continuous access to emergency beds, alongside long-term housing solutions.
Homeless Rough Sleeper Picture on Flickr by Blodeuwedd Deadly Sirius
