Councillors told of midland bid to cater for growing numbers in homelessness

More than 200 adults and 67 children were recorded as being homeless across the four midland counties as of December 31 last, and expenditure on homelessness services in the region came to €6.8m in 2004, up from the €2.5m spent in 2021.

The figures were laid before members of Westmeath County Council at their May monthly meeting, as officials presented the new Midlands Region Homelessness Action Plan 2025–2029, a detailed regional strategy to combat homelessness across Westmeath, Offaly, Laois, and Longford.

The plan has been coordinated by Westmeath County Council as the lead authority, and sets out measures for prevention, emergency accommodation, and long-term housing supports.

Presenting the plan, Jackie Finney, director of services with responsibility for housing in Westmeath, highlighted the extensive consultation process involved, which included the HSE, homeless service providers, and all four midlands local authorities.

The finalised draft is scheduled for adoption by all four councils by June 6, following approval from the region’s statutory management group.

Ms Finney told the meeting that as of December 31, 2024, a total of 207 adults were recorded as homeless across the midlands. Of those, 126 were male and 81 were female. The report also noted 41 homeless families, including 35 single-parent families with 56 dependent children and six two-parent families with 11 children.

A significant rise in the number of people using emergency accommodation has been observed, from 124 individuals in May 2022 to 172 by May 2024. Notably, she said, there was an increase in the number of female adults accessing emergency accommodation over that period.

Westmeath and Offaly consistently report the highest number of homeless presentations in the region, according to the plan.

Ms Finney told the members that the definition applied in deciding who is considered homeless is that contained in the 1988 Housing Act, which is that a person is considered homeless if there is no accommodation available which they together with any other person who normally resides with them can reasonably occupy or remain in occupation of. Or if they’re living in a hospital, county home, night shelter or other such institution because they have no accommodation, or they are, in the opinion of the authority, unable to provide accommodation from their own resources.

Youth and vulnerable groups

The plan highlights youth homelessness as a particular concern, especially among the 18–24-year-old age group, many of whom are transitioning out of care. That cohort is identified as especially vulnerable and in need of tailored support services.

The strategy also addresses challenges faced by those exiting institutional care, including prisons and hospitals, and individuals affected by mental health, addiction, and domestic violence.

Ms Finney said the plan emphasises holistic strategies to combine prevention of homelessness, access to housing, and access to wraparound supports, including through out-of-hours services and also cold weather initiatives for those times of the day and year where there’s no staff in the housing office, but there are services in place.

Ms Finney paid tribute to the contributions of partner agencies, including the Midlands Regional Joint Homelessness Forum, which brings together service providers from sectors such as prison services, probation, and the Midlands Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Force. A key stakeholder meeting in March 2025 marked a milestone in finalising the plan.

Councillors

Welcoming the plan, Cllr Mick Dollard said the issue was one that councillors are dealing with every day and he suspected the homelessness figures contained in the plan were merely scratching the surface. Cllr Dollard said there can be many reasons behind homelessness and in some cases, it was down to drug or alcohol abuse; marital separation or sons and daughters fighting with their parents.

Cllr Ken Glynn also agreed that councillors were meeting people in this situation on a daily basis but he wondered if the plan had teeth. “Is it going to make a real difference, is it going to make a difference on the ground?” he asked, stating that when someone presents to the council as homeless, realistically there’s little that can be done for them.

“That’s the reality,” he stated.

Cllr Glynn went on to say that people had called him crying because they had been offered a tent to sleep in, and he said it was his view that any out-of-hours service provided should be able to help anyone anywhere across the county.

He went on to say that the HAP scheme is no longer worth the paper it’s written on. “It’s totally out of date with the housing prices that are out there,” he said.

A concern voiced by Cllr Denis Leonard was that children growing up in homelessness will end up homeless as adults in the future. He said there was a clear need to speed up housing delivery.

Cost of rents

More affordable homes were also needed as there are people who don’t, he said, qualify for social housing but who can’t afford to buy a home and end up homeless because there are no other options.

Cllr Alfie Devine, noting that the budget allocated for homelessness for 2025 is €6.5 million, said that if that was to remain the amount spent on homelessness services for the next four years, it would total €26 million, which he thought was an awful lot: “How much would it cost to build a 200-bedroom hotel? I think €26 million would do an awful lot,” he remarked.

He suggested that a nominal rent could be charged: “People who are coming to me who are going into the homelessness services have no problem paying a small bit of rent if they have to go somewhere in a hurry,” he said, adding that paying €3,000 a month for a B&B should not be an option.

Cllr Julie McCourt was also of the view that the HAP payment was not adequate. “The average price of a rental in Mullingar is from €1,300 to €1,600, and HAP just doesn’t cut it,” she said.

Cllr McCourt told the meeting she’s had cases of young mothers coming in with up to six children looking for accommodation. “Very few B&Bs are able to take a family of that size. Most might be able to take four at max,” she stated.

Cllr McCourt also expressed misgivings about the fact that people who presented to the council with children ran the risk of being told that TUSLA would be contacted because they were presenting with children and as homeless. “Where, I’d like to know, is that mandated?” she asked, stating that was only adding more agitation to these families.

Her party colleague Cllr David Jones was also deeply concerned about the extent of rents and predicted that it could hit an average of €2,000 in Westmeath by the end of this year.

In one case of which he was aware, a woman was denied access to the house she was renting by virtue of the fact that the landlord put super glue in the locks.

She had no way of getting in except through a window, and was left with no choice but to declare herself homeless. He also was of the view that the figures probably did not include those living on couches and people who were over the income thresholds living with their parents or living with friends, or even, in some cases, living on the streets.

He said sometimes those calling councillors about their situations are threatening suicide: “It can be quite upsetting as a councillor,” he said. “It’s one of the worst parts of the job when you hear that.”