Staff in Wexford homeless centre say they feel ‘unsafe’ and that residents should be Garda vetted

By Simon Bourke, Wexford People

Staff in Wexford’s Ozanam House feel “unsafe” and “uncomfortable” in dealing with certain residents who, according to one local councillor, should receive Garda vetting before being permitted to stay in the homeless accommodation provider.

Raising the issue at the July meeting of Wexford County Council (WCC) Councillor Aoife Rose O’Brien said she had heard “horror stories” from some of the staff at Ozanam House.

“Are background checks and Garda vetting measures being taken for residents in Ozanam House?” she asked. “What support can be given to the staff there? Some of them have shared horror stories with me, they feel unsafe and uncomfortable; this could have a knock-on effect on the work they’re doing.”

Director of housing Carolyne Godkin informed the Sinn Fein councillor that WCC does not run Ozanam House directly and that her query would have to be facilitated by the service provider, DePaul.

Responding to a further query regarding the future use of the old women’s refuge on Distillery Road, Ms Godkin said it would be used as an “overflow” centre for homeless individuals and would not be exclusively for female applicants.

“We won’t be proceeding with a women-only facility there,” she said. “Single women are facilitated in Ozanam House and we have another separate location we use for women and children.”