Homeless being refused entry to Wexford town shelter due to ‘incomplete paperwork’

By Simon Bourke, Wexford People

As Christmas approaches and the nights grow darker, wetter, and colder, the plight of those refused entry to Wexford town's homeless centre has been raised by a local councillor. Having been informed that those excluded from Ozanam House (de Paul) are no longer being told to attend the nearest garda station for shelter, Councillor Tom Forde has asked where people are supposed to go if they can’t access the homeless facility.

“It was previously the case that they were directed to the garda station, but I understand that’s not happening any more,” he said at the December meeting of Wexford County Council (WCC). “We have been given a commitment that no-one would be left without a bed. Yet some people who are presenting in the hope of getting a crash bed are advised to complete paperwork (before being allowed access).

"I appreciate these rules have to be followed but I would ask that some compassion be given to these individuals – some people using the service might not have the capacity to fill out the paperwork correctly. I would ask we show more leniency to people in that situation. If they are refused entry where are we directing them now?”

Addressing the councillor’s query, director of housing Carolyne Godkin said every effort was made to accommodate service users, providing they hadn’t received an exclusion letter.

“Where someone presents as homeless on a normal day they will be offered a bed if one is available,” she said. “If they have been excluded they will be told to seek shelter elsewhere. They will have an exclusion letter which states why they have been excluded. I’m happy with the leniency being afforded to the service users.”

On the issue of incomplete paperwork, Ms Godkin said it was often the case that “the more time you give people to complete (it) the longer it takes” and that service users were generally given three weeks to fill out forms relating to Ozanam House.

And although staff have been advising those refused entry to go to the Garda Station, Ms Godkin said that wasn’t necessarily WCC policy.

“Staff may have advised going to the guards because it’s a public open building but the advice is to seek shelter elsewhere. If someone is excluded it’s not the staff’s fault. It’s their job to keep the people using the service safe. Violence and attacking staff is not acceptable.

"However, in cases of adverse weather no-one is left without a bed, we will accommodate everyone unless there’s a really serious incident.”