Kilkenny opens its first refuge for homeless women

For the first time ever, homeless women living rough in the city have a place of refuge.
How apt that the Good Shepherd Centre should open their new wing for females on Christmas week, when demand hits its peak.
It means a radical reduction in hotel use for women and their children. It gives women who have fallen on hard times somewhere safe and warm to stay on a temporary basis.
The 12 apartments at Church Lane have been completed to a high standard and marks a radical departure for the Good Shepherd Centre which, up to now, only provided homeless services for men
The news gets better. This year The Good Shepherd Centre has acquired 38 houses and apartments for single men, single women and families while Kilkenny County Council have opened short term accommodation for five women and children in Green’s Bridge.
Noel Sherry of the Good Shepherd Centre said the impact of the developments was a radical reduction in hotel use for families and women in Kilkenny at Christmas.
“Plans are in place for the small number of families left in hotels to access permanent homes in January, ironically being provided through a Good Shepherd and Kilkenny County Council initiative,” he said. An unprecedented outcome across the island of Ireland led by multi agency dedication and effort.

“The numbers of men accessing our emergency accommodation have also been reduced,” Noel said.
“Approaching 2019 we are filled with an optimism that we as partner organisations are on the way to providing support and housing solutions for those at risk and/or those experiencing homelessness to ensure that where we don’t prevent a person or family access homeless services that services are in place to ensure their stay in emergency accommodation is as short as possible,” he added.
“This effort is something that any city could take a pride in.
“The people of Kilkenny have supported us throughout 2018 and we owe you a great gratitude for this,” he graciously acknowledged.
“Homelessness strips people of home, a home is an important thing, it is a place that defines our identity, it offers us safety, a sense of belonging and gives us a place to plant our roots.
“Losing a home impacts our relationships, our work, it is distressing and can lead to utter hopelessness. Imagine if the person already has struggles and the impact this can have.
“A major impact people report is that of loss. A loss like a major grievance, feelings that sits heavy on you and occupy your every thought,” Noel said.
He said the new apartments opened this week on Church Lane will provide a new supported temporary accommodation service.
The service is for people who have accessed homeless services and require a period of time to stabilise their issues before progressing to long term housing solutions.
“This is recognised as key to preventing people who are vulnerable to returning to homelessness on a repeated basis,” he concluded.