Homeless families being put up in Limerick city student villages

FAMILIES are currently being housed by the local authority in student accommodation in Limerick city, with some families recently offered long-term leases at student villages on the northside of the city.

A number of families who were previously living in emergency accommodation, as well as a number of Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) tenants, are currently being housed in student accommodation on the Old Cratloe Road. 

Sinn Féin Northside rep Sharon Benson told the Limerick Leader she was “shocked” to learn Limerick City and County Council was offering families long-term leases in the complexes. 

“Student accommodation is no place for families,” Ms Benson told the Limerick Leader. The complexes were designed specifically with students in mind, she added. 

“They were never intended to accommodate families, or designed for people to live in on a long term basis.”

“If these families were offered long-term leases with any other long-term property it would be fine but kids especially do not belong in student villages. It is not right.” Noise is a major concern to the families, she added.

“There are huge issues there if they are living with young kids, trying to get them up for school in the morning after they are woken during the night.” 

“There are children who are in hospital with respiratory problems and other mothers who say their children are missing a lot of school this year due to the disruption.” 

“It's difficult if you’ve got kids and they are trying to study for exams. It's just not suitable.” Families are also spending between €20 and €30 every few days on storage heating in this accommodation, she added. 

“Some of the families (living in the complexes) would have been in emergency accommodation and they were offered a ten-year lease over there,” she explained. 

These families have been advised the council would still keep looking for other accommodation for them even though they were offered these leases, she added. 

“Then there are other people who were in emergency accommodation, moved out of hotels and told they would have to take the student village or their emergency accommodation would be stopped.”

Ms Benson called on the local authority to stop using the accommodation.

“The council needs to commit to an ambitious plan of building social and affordable homes across Limerick, where parents can raise their children in a family friendly environment with access to local services,” she said. 

In a statement to the Limerick Leader, a spokesperson for Limerick City and County Council confirmed it has leased accommodation on the Old Cratloe Road.

“Accommodation which meets the standards of housing laid down by the government will continue to be offered to those who qualify for social housing from Limerick City and County Council.” 

“Being classed as homelessness is not a right of entry to selective housing with the local authority.”

Housing standards deem storage heating acceptable to heat a property, the spokesperson said, adding that there are a number of council homes heated as such. 

“That is not the issue we are raising here,” Ms Benson said in response. “We shouldn’t be putting families into accommodation that is so unsuitable, especially for kids.” 

“These families are not looking for a right to entry into social housing. What they are looking for is a proper home that is suitable for their needs, and student accomodation is not suitable,” she added.