New homelessness strategy backed by Mayo County Council housing committee

A new strategy seeking to phase out the use of B&Bs and hotels as emergency accommodation has been backed by Mayo County Council’s Housing Special Policy Committee (SPC).

The new policy will see homeless people accommodated at communal facilities to provide a better quality of life for residents.

Mayo County Council is currently operating one such facility in Charlestown, where residents have access to cooking, play and study facilities. The facility is monitored on a 24/7 basis and can accommodate up to 100 people.

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In 2024, 187 people presented as homeless to Mayo County Council, 50 more presentations than the previous year. In line with national policy, these people received emergency accomodation in B&B, hotels and guest houses.

Tom Gilligan, Mayo County Council’s Director of Services for Housing, said that using hotels and B&Bs for emergency accomodation was not appropriate, ‘particularly’ for young children attending school.

Speaking at the February meeting of the Housing SPC, Mr Gilligan explained that homeless people living in tourist accommodation often had to move out at weekends during the tourist summer season.

“We have had instances where someone would be booked in, maybe from Monday to Thursday and then they have to find alternative accommodation in order to go back in the following week. That takes up an awful lot of time, it’s very inefficient and it’s very costly.”

Mr Gilligan said residents are afforded ‘a better quality of life and a better service’ and improved access to facilities in hubs like the council’s Charlestown facility.

The strategy, which was formulated by Galway City Council, aims to help end homelessness by 2030.

It was broadly welcomed by elected members of Mayo County Council’s Housing SPC when noted at their most recent meeting.

However, Cllr Michael Kilcoyne expressed concerns about the effect of moving homeless families ‘miles away’ from their communities - even as far as Galway. The Castlebar-based councillor said people should be accommodated as near as possible to where they are currently living.

“Little Johnny is going to school. So he tells his classmates, ‘Mammy is moving me to Charlestown next week because we have no house.’ What kind of a signal are we giving to people? I think people should be accommodated, where possible, in their area,” said Cllr Kilcoyne.

“It’s not the fault of little Johnny or little Mary if the council hasn’t adequate accomodation. It’s a poorer reflection on the council than it is on them people.”

Mr Gilligan acknowledged Cllr Kilcoyne’s concerns and said the council were trying to find appropriate accommodation ‘all year’ to prevent people from having to leave their area.

“Everyone in this room has the potential to be homeless in the morning. We have to show respect, we have to show dignity and ensure these people can get on with their lives as best they can until their circumstances improve,” said Mr Gilligan.

Cllr Harry Barrett (Independent) said the new homelessness strategy ‘ticks all the boxes in terms of how local authorities engage with outside services’ but said its success would depend on ‘quite a lot of funding’.

The amount spent on homeless services in the West region rose from €1.7 million in 2014 to over €14 million in 2023.

Ballyhaunis-based Fine Gael councillor Alma Gallagher said wraparound services at Mayo County Council’s homeless facility in Charlestown needed to be improved.

“I know individuals there that are still waiting for their social workers to come down and help them complete their forms for social housing,” she said.