Meanwhile, At Brú

at

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Inside the Brú Aimsir Hostel in November and outside the hostel this morning

You may recall the opening of the Dublin City Council-run Brú Aimsir Hostel at the Digital Hub on Thomas Street, Dublin 8 last November – as part of the council’s Cold Weather Initiative.

The 100-bed facility is now to close with 50 beds already closed, while the 42-bed John’s Lane West hostel is to also close.

In response to the closure, a group of homeless people is now occupying the building, while the Irish Housing Network is holding a demonstration outside the Dublin City Council offices on Wood Quay.

In a statement, residents of Brú said:

“Thank you for your support, please continue to do so – it could be you next week. We feel as though the dogs on the street are treated better than us. They are taken in and put in shelters so they are not roaming the streets, but the Government are willing to let people roam the streets every day.”

“One woman here came from a women’s refuse due to domestic violence. She has severe mental and medical health issues and relies heavily on Brú’s services since the beginning of March.”

“She has been approved for H.A.P. (Housing Assistance Payment) with South Dublin County Council, but is finding it extremely difficult to find anywhere suitable for her and her 12-year-old son.”

Suitable accommodation before closing John’s Lane West (Facebook)

Previously: Nice Crib, Brú

Pic: Rollingnews and Richard Chambers

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51 thoughts on “Meanwhile, At Brú

  1. Anomanomanom

    So scummy lay abouts illegally occupy a building and people will be cheering them. I’m delighted it closed. Iv lived in the area all my life and since that place opened iv witnessed in 5 occasions people completely out of it*drink or drugs* sprawled across the footpath outside the IAWS building directly across from the shelter.

      1. Daddy Wilson

        Temporary building too, it was never to be a permanent thing.
        Which is I am sure how it got past any residents assocs in the area.

        1. Clampers Outside!

          Even the local DCC councillors for the area, which includes the now Lord Mayor Criona Ni Dhalaigh, all expressed genuine surprise when it opened. So, I can assure you no one was consulted, or given opportunity to oppose it if they so desired.

          I can say that it was pretty much accepted by those on the res assoc for James’ as a ‘well, it’s in now, we have to do our bit too’ and stick it out, knowing it was to be temporary and covering the much needed winter initiative – the site is still for sale.

          Not saying any of that is right or wrong, just clarifying.

          1. Daddy Wilson

            Thanks, hadn’t realised as I don’t live in the area. Did live nearby not so long ago though

      2. Medium Sized C

        You never saw anyone “out of it*drink or drugs*” on Thomas street before last year?

        Ever?

        1. Anomanomanom

          Didn’t sat that. I said sprawled across the path and on such a level. Normally the drunks sit outside lidl causing no hassle, they don’t sprawl across the path

          1. Clampers Outside!

            “no hassle”

            That’s what I should’ve said to that new guy in the wheelchair when he said in the quickest stream of conscious flip from question to aggression I ever heard…..

            ” Hey, gis a euroaye’llcutyoureyesout! ”

            No word of a lie.
            Said he’d break my legs on another day…… :/

            Poor sod.

          2. Anomanomanom

            Is that the one legged guy (not a joke). Before he lost the leg I foolishly gave him money back because,ridiculous reason, he said “I promise il drink it, I’m not a junkie” and when I walked off he turned straight into Ladbroke. I could only laugjm

    1. Bertie Blenkinsop

      “Iv lived in the area all my life and since that place opened iv witnessed in 5 occasions people completely out of it*drink or drugs* ”

      Ironically enough your sentence seems to have dropped a lot of E’s….

    2. dav

      “scummy layabouts” I surprised you aren’t advocating the torching of the place with the homeless inside, because that’s what they deserve, eh?

  2. Daddy Wilson

    “difficult to find anywhere suitable”
    Show me the places that she has been offered and subsequently rejected!
    Anything that isn’t “on the streets” is suitable.

    An clear illustration of beggars trying to be choosers. Take what you are given if it gets your 12 yr old off the streets!

  3. They Tried To Make Me Go To Rehab

    I heard one of their advocates on the radio this morning

    She was saying there was no point in offering some of them a house because they’re not ready for a house yet, hence the hostel should stay open. Not ready? What a first world problem!

    I’d say if you offered a dog on the street a house of his own to live in – he’s going to take you up on the offer.

    I resent the inference that woman is making that they are being treated worse than dogs on the streets.

    Dogs are not selfish, ungrateful, parasitic, good-for-nothing poo holes in my experience.

      1. Dόn 'The Unstoppable Force' Pídgéόní

        Sure, these threads always attract ignorant comments from people who would benefit from learning a little more about homelessness.

        1. They Tried To Make Me Go To Rehab

          Judging by your output on this I’m not sure how we can help you to be honest.

          1. Dόn 'The Unstoppable Force' Pídgéόní

            My two fav trolls in the place they belong – beneath me…

            I thought you were too adult to reply to me Rehab?

          2. They Tried To Make Me Go To Rehab

            Oooh saucy Dawn

            Beneath you eh?

            Two of us?

            Have at you, you saucy little mink

        2. human

          Don ‘THE IRANIAN’ wants people to submit to her will ……… No questioning her regressive positions.

          1. Dόn 'The Unstoppable Force' Pídgéόní

            “The best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today”.

            H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

      2. They Tried To Make Me Go To Rehab

        @ Clampers – in the context of millions of homeless people fleeing from a war torn situation to Greek Islands, please clarify how a few drunks refusing to take responsibility for being adults is not a first world problem?

        1. Medium Sized C

          You know absolutely nothing of their situation.
          You just read something and made a massive logical leap and judged them based on that leap.

          You don’t know anything about these people, about mental illness, addiction or any of the other problems faced by any of the homeless people in question.

          You also don’t know what “First world” means.
          And using “First world problems” in a non-self-deprecating fashion is detestable.

          You basically suck as a person.

          1. pedeyw

            Rehab, try to punctuate. You’re comment makes no sense. Are you saying C is a sorry, drunk, homeless guy? Are you saying sorry to a drunk homeless guy or are you saying that you are are sorry to a guy because you’re drunk and homeless?

        2. Gorev Mahagut

          The notion that addicts and the mentally ill are guilty of a lack of moral fibre was a mainstay of Victorian-era “medicine” but I think psychiatric and medical understanding have evolved somewhat since the 1890s.

          FYI bleeding by leeches is no longer widely administered at the barber surgeons. Just in case you were wondering.

        3. Clampers Outside!

          “Not ready?”

          When you spend some time researching why you don’t understand the relevance of “Not ready?” come back to me.

          But until then, there’s clearly no point talking about it.

          1. They Tried To Make Me Go To Rehab

            So you can’t speak to support your own point? That’s pretty weak even from you.

    1. DubLoony

      Homeless charity agencies are advocating a “House first” approach to tackling people’s complex problems.
      If you have medical condition that requires takes meds at regular intervals but have no-where to store them, you have very little chance to sticking to a regime. Getting a nights sleep, some privacy, ability to cook proper food are all basics.

      So properly house first and then surround them with the necessary supports.
      Closing down shelters without having an alternative plan for the people who use them does seem counter productive.

      There’s a number of housing shelters on Thomas st and many are left wandering about during the day. I live in the area and there is an excessive mount of public drinking and bodily functions I’d rather not witness going on.

      1. They Tried To Make Me Go To Rehab

        I believe it. Even dogs would have more decorum. I resent these anti dog comments

  4. Rob_G

    “We feel as though the dogs on the street are treated better than us. They are taken in and put in shelters so they are not roaming the streets…”

    – are they suggesting that they euthanise homeless people if they are not claimed within a week? I guess that would reduce the homeless problem some (bit extreme, but)…

  5. eamonn clancy

    Someone should inform the lady that dogs are put down after a week. Unless that’s her point of course.

  6. Jimmee

    Homeless dogs have more rights than homeless people?

    Homeless dogs are taken to the pound, and if nobody adopts them, they are put down. Stupid statement from that protester.

    1. Nigel

      Yes. That is the important thing here. You have really homed in on the central point. Dogs that are about to be put down are treated better than human beings.

  7. Supercrazyprices

    Introduce neo-liberal capitalist economic policies and this is what you get. A two tier society.

    The only issue most of you comfortable middle class tax dodgers have is when you have to actually witness the consequences of your greed and indifference to the less well off members of society.

    You glide into work on the Green Line, happy that you managed to dodge your capital gains tax liability on those shares your Dad gave you which in turn results in less money for services for those in need. And then you complain when you see desperate homeless people with no shelter.

    Join the dots.

    1. Andy

      You mean CAT not CGT.

      I know that because I’m middle class, with lots of money and my hobbies include throwing stale bread at orphans and dodging tax.

  8. Kieran NYC

    Unfortunate timing that this comes so close to the closure of the two (?) Peter McVerry hostels.

    Was there no coordination between the two groups? Why no opprobrium for him?

    1. 1980s Man

      Yes Kieran, attack the charities who are working to provide the services that Government has failed to provide.

      Classic Fine Gael sneering that.

  9. Clampers Outside!

    I think some people are of the impression that you just stick a homeless person in a home and that’s it. They are no longer homeless.

    I hope I’m wrong.

    But if not, the country will need a deeper pile rug to keep brushing this stuff under.

    1. Andy

      So someone who has a home can be “homeless”?

      Do they need a second home? Maybe somewhere down the country? Really not following.

      I’ve two homes but I rent one out, does that mean I’m homeless? Chrst. What will the neighbors think!

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