City Council buys €1m B&B to transform into ‘homeless hub’
A guesthouse in Newcastle has been acquired by Galway City Council to provide a roof over the heads of a dozen homeless families.
The local authority paid just over €1 million to purchase Corrib Haven B&B on Upper Newcastle Road. The 464 square metre property has recently been refurbished by the Council and it will soon be home to 12 families.
It comprises a sitting room, dining room, conservatory, kitchen, utility, and four bedrooms with en suite bathrooms on the ground floor; eight bedrooms with en suite bathrooms on the first-floor; and three bedrooms with en suite bathrooms in the attic.
The facility needs modifications including fit-out and fire safety works to ensure it complies with regulations. The Council expects the home to be open in late December or early January 2019. It will go to tender soon to procure a homeless service provider to run the facility. The capital cost of the acquisition is being funded by the Department of Housing.
Patricia Philbin, Director of Services for Housing, said the new facility will be used to house families who are currently living in emergency accommodation such as hotels and B&Bs.
“Once operational, it is intended to move existing families out of hotel arrangements as quickly as possible, and to limit the extent to which such accommodation has to be used for new presentations. The costs incurred in providing private emergency accommodation (in Galway City) have risen substantially in recent years from around €300,000 in 2016 to an estimated €1.2 million in 2018. The provision of a Family Hub will reduce dependence on hotels and B&Bs while reducing the significant costs that arise,” said Ms Philbin.
She added that in August of this year there were more than 50 families accommodated on behalf of the City Council in hotels and B&Bs and that figure was expected to rise in the coming months.
Labour Party councillor Billy Cameron said the people of Newcastle will welcome the new families to the area.
Cllr Cameron said a ‘Family Hub’ is a facility which provides emergency accommodation but where residents have access to communal facilities including kitchens, play areas for children, full laundry facilities, rooms for visiting supports and meeting room facilities.
“There is no dignity for homeless people living in hotels and B&Bs and this is about giving back some dignity,” said Cllr Cameron.
“I believe we should live and let live and that this Family Hub will be welcomed by the people of Newcastle, in order to help to alleviate the homeless crisis in our city. It won’t solve it but it is a help and a stop-gap. During the winter months, COPE Galway, the homeless charity, has its winter initiative for homeless and it is based on Seamus Quirke Road. There are absolutely no problems with that facility and there is no anti-social behaviour associated with it and so I see no reason why people should be concerned about this new home for homeless families,” added Cllr Cameron.
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