LEADING HOMELESS ADVOCATE SAYS FEMALES OUTNUMBERING MEN
“The constant threat of rape is just one more hazard that the female homeless on Limerick’s streets have to contend with”.
One of the city’s best-known advocates for the homeless has said that females now outnumber men with young girls and women turning up for the regular homeless outreaches she runs, and they have shared their experiences as well as worries about sexual violence with her.
Speaking ahead of a public meeting in Limerick (17th November) Aontú Cllr Sarah Beasley, who has been consistently providing food, warm drinks and clothes for rough sleepers and others experiencing homelessness in the city centre for the past four years, says
“Rape is a vile act, it’s all about power and control and sadly the homeless women have little of either. Their lives are so hard already and it is heartbreaking to think of them having to endure further violation. It’s a cold world for all people who are homeless, with women and young girls particularly vulnerable, and what angers me the most is the lack of apparent will to change this. The Winter Initiative can see the Government providing beds when the weather is cold; the question is, if they can do this in Winter, why not all year round? It doesn’t make sense. There is no coherent plan, it’s all done on a wing and a prayer and it’s not good enough.
The homeless are human beings too, they have rights and they are being let down by successive Governments’ who are all talk and very little action. It’s really sad and shocking, though not surprising to see the growth in homeless young women who are using our homeless outreach services. Females are now outnumbering men which is extremely disturbing . We are doing our best to help them, we are there on a regular basis and this is very important as their worlds are uncertain, and we are a constant which is vital. We’re a point of contact and information for them and we see them, really see them. Of course they welcome the sustenance we provide, but above all else they welcome the fact that we are there, week after week offering support, a smile, a few kind words and a listening ear. I can’t stress how important that is. They thank us for being there and for thinking of them, they appreciate being heard and being seen which to me is absolutely heartbreaking as their lives are as valuable as any”.
“It’s actually very depressing to think that here we are at yet another Winter and the homeless figures are rising and rising, now at over 16,000 and our government seems either unwilling or unable to tackle it head on”.
“The weather is absolutely freezing at the moment and forecasters are predicting a chill over the next few weeks and it’s truly heartbreaking to think of people sleeping rough—a concrete pillow is what they can look forward to, it’s absolutely horrendous and the Government’s response is nothing short of disgraceful”.
“It seems to have no control and is rudderless. We are constantly told that the country is ‘awash’ with money, yet we have unmanaged and illegal immigration and spiralling crime. There is no accountability whatsoever and that’s really the nub of the issue. If there are no consequences for Government actions or lack of, it can carry on doing a gross disservice to our citizens.
Ordinary men and women in Limerick ,who bear no ill towards anybody, are shaking their heads at just how this Government is treating its citizens and the most vulnerable in our society.
Aontú is on record for consistently trying to ensure this Government is held to account and the people need to demand better. I am hoping that am many people as possible turn out for our Public Metting where I will be joined by our party Leader Deputy Peadar Toibin, one of the main voices trying to draw attention to this Government’s litany of failures”.
