Lynn Ruane (Independent) | Oireachtas source

A couple of Senators referred to the hidden homeless. Last year I was with a young man in hospital when he died. We tried to encourage him to undergo treatment for cirrhosis of the liver. The man was aged in his early 30s and lived in a hostel. He chose to die in a hospital bed rather than have to live on the streets again. His fear was that if he went into treatment he would lose his place in a hostel, and instead chose to die. I assured him that I would work with him until we secured accommodation for him in order to ensure he could go into treatment. His view was that it did not matter because he was part of the forgotten homeless. That experience stayed with me. It is part of the new wave of homelessness that is happening and that affects families and local authorities. Another cohort of homelessness comprises those with high levels of need.

In the hostels I have worked in there are men who require nursing home care. The staff in hostels are not nurses, but they act as medical professionals. The current levels of primary care and safety nets for homeless people are increasing their life expectancy. Investment is not being provided to ensure that hostels keep up with the men and women - mostly men - who are reaching an age where they should be in nursing homes. Some of them have high levels of care needs but are being cared for by project workers who are not suitably qualified. They are not being allowed to die with dignity. The hostels are of a low standard. Street drinkers live in them. Even when people die in hostels, they do not do so in the comfort of a bed where they should be at their age.

I recently visited Brú Aimsir hostel to carry out a survey. I welcome that the process will continue and the hostel will increase to full capacity. I call on the Minister and anyone else who is dealing with the homelessness issue not to forget that a cohort of homeless people is not acknowledged in any legislation. Council housing is not appropriate for such people. Rather, they need supportive and traditional housing with structures that allow those with high levels of needs to be cared for.