Galway City Councillor Helen Ogbu has issued a call for immediate action regarding the standard and quality of private emergency accommodations in the city. This comes after dealing with a deeply troubling situation involving a constituent who recently became homeless with his family.
The family of three was allocated a room through a Private Emergency Accommodation provider in the Westside of the city. However, upon arrival, they found the room to be uninhabitable, riddled with crawling insects, filthy, smelly, with broken furniture and stained walls. The constituent was visibly upset and refused to spend the night in such conditions.
The constituent commented, “The room is not liveable and is filthy with dirt. I tried to bring this to the attention of the agency, and they just told me that I can attend a meeting tomorrow at 10 am. They also told me on the phone that if I wasn’t happy with the room, they would have to inform Galway City Council. There are human snots on the walls, and the bed isn’t fit to be slept in as it is in a really bad condition.”
When the family complained about the state of the room to the provider, they were told that this was the standard assigned to others and they should be grateful for the offer. Additionally, they were informed that the kitchen was closed for five days and were advised to use a microwave in their room for cooking.
Councillor Ogbu accompanied the family to a meeting with the agency and questioned the inspection process of the properties before they are assigned to families.
“We would expect inspections to ensure the rooms are clean and habitable. This situation is unacceptable, and measures must be put in place to inspect the standards, quality, and safety of the services provided by private emergency accommodation providers.”
She added, “Taxpayers’ money is being used to pay these providers, and there must be accountability and a standard of service in return. We understand we are in a housing crisis, but that is not an excuse for substandard services. If these private providers were catering to tourists, they would provide a high standard of service. Why should it be any different for our homeless citizens?”
Councillor Ogbu emphasized that everyone has the right to basic human rights, respect, and dignity. She also highlighted the negative impact such conditions have on the mental health and self-worth of homeless individuals.
“I call for an immediate audit of the private emergency accommodation providers and regular inspections of the properties to ensure they meet acceptable living standards. We must ensure that our most vulnerable citizens are treated with the respect and dignity they deserve,” she concluded.
Thanks to immediate intervention, the family has since been reassigned to more conducive accommodation.
