Rising number of homeless cases in Mayo

There are currently 217 homeless people, including 69 children, in Mayo.

The rising numbers have prompted a local councillor to call for specialised training for elected representatives as they deal with increasingly desperate situations exacerbated by the housing crisis.

Cllr Brendan Mulroy said councillors are simply “not equipped” to deal with some of the calls and representations they receive from people in desperate situations or with mental health issues.

At the monthly meeting of Mayo County Council, Cllr Michael Loftus highlighted a “disgraceful” incident where a fellow councillor received a midnight phone call from someone claiming to be homeless and threatening suicide if they did not receive accommodation.

Cllr Loftus said the Government should be building modular housing for homeless Irish people in the manner in which housing was built for Ukrainians fleeing the conflict in their homeland.

Cllr Chris Maxwell suggested that as a stopgap measure, the council should buy mobile homes in which to house families and individuals who find themselves homeless.

Cllr Harry Barrett detailed how there are currently 217 homeless people, including 69 children, in Mayo.

“Homelessness and housing is out of control,” said Cllr Barrett. “It’s affecting working people as well. They go to the council offices and are told they are earning too much for help, they are in limbo. 

"They go to the bank to ask for a mortgage and they are told they are not earning enough. People are suffering,” he added.

Cllr Barrett said the “singular focus” should be tackling homelessness and a dedicated unit should be set up.

He said the local authority's inaction in dealing with people who are “holding onto derelict properties at this stage of the game is totally unacceptable" and he called on the council to press ahead and use compulsory purchase orders to deal with “delinquent” property owners.

Cllr Michael Kilcoyne accused the council of “failing” the people of Mayo when it comes to housing and homelessness. However, this was rejected by Director of Services Tom Gilligan who said staff “work night and day” to tackle homelessness.

“I’m not blaming the staff. I’m blaming council management,” Cllr Kilcoyne retorted.