Housing Crisis Increases Women's Risk Of Homelessness, Yet Women's Refuges Still Falling Short In Kildare

Calls have been made to make Kildare South a priority area for a new women's refuge, with over 407 women making requests to Teach Tearmainn

In a submission to the UN Universal Periodic Review, the National Women’s Council has said that the deepening housing crisis has increased women’s risk of homelessness and trapped many in abusive situations.

The UPR is a global human rights check-in, where every UN Member State has its record reviewed by other countries roughly every 4–5 years.

It results in concrete recommendations that governments can implement.

The National Women’s Council says that many recommendations from the last review in 2021 remain only partially implemented.

This is despite some huge leaps forward in policy, such as the National Strategy for Women and Girls and the Third National Strategy on Violence Against Women. 

"We're at a stage now, where women are actually deciding 'do I become homeless, or do I stay at home with an abuser'", said Corinne Hasson, Executive Director of the National Women's Council on this morning's Kildare Today show.

"It's unsettling, it's disappointing, it's tragic in a lot of cases."

Last week, Labour TD for Kildare South, Mark Wall, called on the Justice Minister to make Kildare a priority area for a new women's refuge.

The call came as Minister Jim O'Callaghan confirmed that Kildare was not identified as a priority location for new refuge construction.

“In over 20 years of political life, I am seriously concerned about the level of domestic violence cases coming into my office", Deputy Wall said.

According to him, Teach Tearmainn, which provides free and confidential support services to women and children in Kildare who are experiencing domestic violence and abuse, received requests from 407 women and close to 440 children.

Almost 270 of those requests had to be turned down, due to the Kildare service not having enough accommodations to meet demand.

The Justice Minister did confirm that Kildare would be considered as a location for future refuge development programmes and that Cuan, the statutory agency dedicated to tackling and reducing domestic, sexual, and gender-based violence, would ensure Kildare be on the priority list for phase 2 development.

"Women and children experiencing and fleeing domestic violence in Kildare must be made a priority by this government. Kildare must be made a priority for a new refuge", said Deputy Wall.

The submission from the National Women's Council to the UN review also noted lack of childcare as a major barrier to equality, as well as pointing to barriers in abortion, gaps in mental health services, and significant health inequalities among Traveller, Roma, disabled, and migrant women.

HELPLINES:

Teach Tearmainn - 1800 91 91 91 

Women’s Aid - 1800 341 900

Women’s Aid Kildare/West Wicklow - 045 527 584

Saoirse Domestic Violence - 1800 911 221

Men’s Aid - 01 554 3811

National Male Advice Line - 1800 816 588

The full interview with the National Women's Council can be listened to below: