Westmeath's homeless are 'invisible'
People do not realise the extent of the homelessness problem in Westmeath because most of it is “invisible” according to the manager of a Mullingar hostel for women and children.
Speaking at the launch of a fundraising draw for Temporary Emergency Accommodation Midlands (TEAM) in the Annebrook Hotel recently that was launched by actress Mary McEvoy, Fidelma Bennett said that while the number of local people who are presenting as homeless has risen significantly in the last two years, the problem largely remained underground.
“People have an idea about homeless people and how they look and what their problems are, but that is the stereotypical living in the cardboard box type of homelessness. Down the country it tends to be a bit more invisible because people are bunking in with relatives or they are living in sheds out the country.
"For instance last year when we had a couple of homeless men on the streets of Mullingar everyone was talking about homelessness and they reckoned there were only two homeless people in all of Westmeath, but of course that isn't the case.”
TEAM runs the Teach Fáilte hostel in Mullingar for homeless women and children from four midlands counties (Westmeath, Longford, Laois and Offaly). The 11 unit facility is currently “chock-a-block”, according to Ms Bennett, with eleven women and ten children residing there.
In the past TEAM were able to help Teach Fáilte's residents secure new accommodation within six months, however due to the current shortage of rental accommodation many residents are now there for a year or longer.
The shortage of rental accommodation has also brought a new cohort of people looking for help from TEAM, Ms Bennett revealed.
“We would regularly have families presenting who maybe in previous years had retained a tenancy. They were working and paying rent. They wouldn't be part of the usual pathways that lead to homelessness but for one reason or another - maybe the house has been sold or repossessed - they can’t find a similar property to rent and they are left homeless
“We have that layer of people with us as well now, as if the homelessness services weren't stretched enough.”
“That's the nature of it now. It is so widespread at this point in time and is affecting so many more people. Services are very stressed.”
Although TEAM receives funding from Westmeath County Council and the HSE, every year it has to make up a shortfall of around €80,000 to keep its doors open.
Ms Bennett, who is also the chairperson of TEAM's fundraising committee, said that the upcoming draw, which has a new quad as the main prize and was launched by actress Mary McEvoy, will not only boost the organisation's bank balance but also raise awareness in other midlands counties about they work they do. She also praised the people of Westmeath for the support they have given TEAM since Teach Fáilte opened in 2009.
“We have an opportunity with this quad to bring it to the likes of the Ploughing Championship, to bring it to Tullamore Show and it was in Longford last week. We want to try and spread the word that we support women from these areas as well. We also want to spread the burden a wee bit as it's not an insignificant amount to raise.”