Homeless person sleeping rough outside Limerick City Hall

A HOMELESS person has been sleeping outside of City Hall in Merchants Quay, despite being offered emergency accommodation, the Limerick Leader has learned.

The individual is believed to have been sleeping in the shelter of a window outside City Hall on occasion over the past number of months. 

A spokesperson for Novas could not comment on the individual in question, but said that two other people had been turned down for emergency accommodation.

“Last Monday two people were unable to access accommodation in Novas’ McGarry House and requested bedding. This was facilitated. Neither of these individuals were from Limerick,” they said.

“Unfortunately this is not an infrequent occurrence and we have provided bedding to people unable to access services on more than 50 occasions so far this year. While the Temporary Emergency Service established by Novas in collaboration with Limerick City and County Council in December 2016, is immensely important in preventing wide-scale rough sleeping in the city, a small number of individuals continue to find it difficult to secure a bed at night, due to the continuing crisis,” they added.

Commenting on the matter, a spokesperson for the council said:

“Homeless services are available in Limerick and anyone experiencing homeless should contact Limerick Homeless Action Team either in person in Pery Square or telephone on 061 481212 during Normal Business Hours or Out of Hours: 1800 606060,” said the spokesperson for Limerick City and County Council.

“There is an adequate amount of accommodation in Limerick for those presenting as homeless,” they added.