Wicklow councillors warned of ‘tsunami’ as State support cuts risk hidden homelessness for Ukrainians

By Hugh O'Farrell Walsh, The Wicklow People

Wicklow councillors have been warned of a “tsunami of problems” as the government’s phased withdrawal of accommodation and financial supports for Ukrainians, and other beneficiaries of temporary protection, triggers a major crisis in the county, with councillors already dealing with families being evicted.

The warning came during a detailed presentation on the work of the county’s integration services, delivered by director Jackie Carroll and senior executive officer Meadhbh Quinn, who outlined the scale of the arising challenge as national policy shifts.

Cllr Melanie Corrigan opened by noting the “ever-evolving landscape” and the need for councillors to understand the implications of the government’s new measures.

Ms Quinn told members that Wicklow has nine IPAS centres that accommodate international protection applicants and refugees, and 14 State provided accommodation centres for beneficiaries of temporary protection.

She said these centres are home to 760 people and that the new policy means all roads lead to private rented accommodation.

She stressed that Wicklow County Council is no longer involved in allocating accommodation for any of the targeted cohorts, adding that the council’s role is focused on support rather than placement.

The council’s Local Authority Integration Team (LAIT) is already dealing with the fallout.

Health and wellbeing needs are the most significant, with many people requiring intensive support. English language access, financial wellbeing, legal issues and complex cases are also major pressures.

Wicklow County Council officials have been engaging intensively with the Department of Justice and Justice Minister Jim O’ Callaghan on how best to address the situation. Photo: PA

The most urgent challenge is the government’s decision to withdraw accommodation from Ukrainians who do not meet vulnerability criteria.

“The changes to accommodation is causing some concern and distress to applicants… and anyone that works with them,” she said. “It is a challenging space and will become a priority for the team generally over the next number of months.”

Cllr Peir Leonard said she had already witnessed the consequences in Arklow.

“I think we’re facing into a tsunami of a huge problem going forward,” she told the chamber.

“The policy that has come in is a throw yourself off a cliff policy for people living here and their kids. We need to send something to higher government to say there needs to be a longer and less harsh transition for people that are here, because there’s families at the end of it.”

She described families being evicted repeatedly. “There’s people thrown out on the road with their children after moving four or five times, and there’s no one there to help,” she said.

“We will be left as councillors dealing with this on the ground with no help.”

Cllr Erika Doyle raised concerns about the impact on the housing system, noting that a new extended protection scheme will allow some Ukrainians to join the housing list.

“That will presumably be a flood of new applications… and it’s the local authorities and the elected members that will be trying to manage that,” she said, asking whether any support would be provided to councils.

In response Jackie Carroll confirmed that the situation is extremely serious and that the council has been engaging intensively with the Department of Justice.

“You’re right, we are facing a tsunami,” she said.

She explained that while a temporary transition scheme will allow some Ukrainians to gain status, “currently they’re not eligible to go on the housing list”.

“They’re entitled to rent supplement, but there are no properties out there to rent.”

She warned that the county is likely to see a rise in people who are effectively homeless but unable to access homeless services.

“There’s going to be hidden homelessness,” she said.

Ms Carroll said the council is constantly sending recommendations through the LGMA and up to the Department of Justice, and that the Department had met with Wicklow officials to discuss the implications.

But she emphasised that the council cannot provide accommodation.

“We only provide supports for family who are in the situation,” she explained. “The accommodation piece is managed by the Department.”

Some families may choose to return to State accommodation, she said, but this will mean a significant drop in income and the likelihood of being moved out of their community.

She noted that many Ukrainians are working and may be able to remain in their current homes if they can afford the reduced payments, which have already fallen to €600 and will drop to €400 by October.

But she acknowledged that the overall situation remains unpredictable.

“We’re facing an unknown at the moment,” she said. “All we can do is… analyse what impact it’s going to have on the service and… make recommendations up the line.”

The presentation also outlined the broader work of the integration service, including the Community Integration Forum, which brings together stakeholders across the county.

Meadhbh Quinn said the forum is developing a strategic plan and will be central to the creation of a new migrant integration strategy once the national strategy is published.

Councillors made clear that the immediate crisis is overshadowing long-term planning.

Cllr Corrigan said it was “shocking” to see families who had become part of local communities now facing displacement.

“It is a really important thing that we should be discussing,” she said, apologising that time constraints prevented a full debate.