Dublin City Council votes to Save Homeless Service
Last night Dublin City Council voted overwhelmingly to save Cedar House Homeless Unit. The Council is now seeking that the Homeless Agency reverses its decision to close the unit.
Cedar House provides services for up to 50 men per night and up to 50 men and women per day.
Services provided include: emergency accommodation, counselling, methadone maintenance programmes, personal development programmes, educational programmes, doctor/nurse access, life skills programmes, key workers, day drop in centre providing shower facilities, clean clothing, bedding and food.
The motion said:
“This Council condemns the proposed closure of Cedar House Homeless Hostel in accordance with the strategy of the Homeless Agency, “Pathway to Home”. We demand that this unit remains fully open and continues the provision of services to homeless people in our city until such time as alternative and adequate housing alternatives are put in place. An essential 20 bed dormitory is due for closure by 30th March 2010 and no adequate alternative has yet been identified and communicated. 30 individual rooms and all other services are due for cessation by 30th September 2010.”
In proposing the motion People Before Profit Councillor Brid Smith said:
“If the decision makers go ahead with planned closures of these facilities without ensuring continued and consistent access to support services many people will regress dramatically in their struggle to improve their lives. The Pathway to Home strategy can only work if there is an adequate supply of long-term housing. With 60,000 people currently on the waiting list there is clearly a shortfall . Without a guarantee of appropriate long term accommodation it is impossible for us to accept this closure”.
The motion was taken under Lord Mayors Business and was passed overwhelmingly. Councillor Smyth is now calling on the Mayor to ensure that Council officials convey the clear view of the Council to the Homeless Agency.
People Before Profit is fully committed to supporting the staff in their campaign to keep Cedar House open.