Storm Ophelia highlights the vulnerability of homeless people

Preparations for storm Ophelia began in earnest in NOVAS services on Sunday morning. In order to keep the homeless population in Limerick, Kerry, Tipperary and Dublin safe and well during the impending storm, the organisation extended its services throughout the city, liaised with clients, re-structured rotas and secured building and outdoor space.

The storm highlighted the vulnerability of people who are homeless, who spends large parts of the day out of doors, those who are rough sleeping and those who are sofa surfing but have no place to call home. Every day is a struggle for survival but days like Monday shine a cold light on these difficulties.

NOVAS’ Temporary Emergency Provision (TEP), which normally opens from 9pm until 9am – to provide a warm, dry and safe place for 20 adults to sleep – was opened 24/7. Any additional clients, beyond 20, were also accommodated during the inclement weather.

On Monday night as the worst of the storm passed, NOVAS services continued to deal with the aftermath. McGarry House, Brother Russell House and the TEP each made provision for an additional four clients. Our family services worked throughout the day and evening to provide food for families living in B&B accommodation who had no access to meals for their children. Our Street Outreach service proceeded as normal on Monday evening, with two dedicated volunteers providing hot meals to 18 individuals who were not in services, but who rely on this daily support. The Out-of-Hours service proceeded as normal and from 5pm to 9pm on Monday evening took more than 50 calls from people looking for support and accommodation.

NOVAS’ Communications Manager Una Burns noted that the storm ‘highlighted the vulnerability of homeless people and very often the lack of familial and social supports available to them. We are delighted to say that there were no injuries among the homeless people during the storm and we are confident that we got everyone in doors, with our staff driving around throughout the day to ensure nobody was left outside’. She continued that the number of people accessing NOVAS’ services continues to rise ‘with the Street Outreach service busier than ever and the TEP service turning people away on a nightly basis. McGarry House has resorted to providing sleeping bags to people presenting there late at night, as the service is at capacity and people are forced to sleep rough’.

In Dublin, the Abigail Centre offered capacity for an additional 10 homeless women and in Kerry Arlington Lodge offered support to anyone who needed secure accommodation as the storm passed over. NOVAS’ Mitchel Street service in Thurles also offered supported to anyone who found themselves homeless throughout the ordeal. Our outreach services throughout the county were also accessible by phone for anyone in emergency.