Luke Silke
The constant threat of rape is just one more hazard that the female homeless on Limerick’s streets have to contend with.
One of the city’s best known advocates for the homeless has said that there is a disturbing rise in the numbers of young girls and women turning up for the regular homeless outreaches she runs, and they have shared their experiences as well as worries about sexual violence with her.
The Secretary of Aontú, Sarah Beasley, who has been consistently providing food, warm drinks and clothes for rough sleepers and others experiencing homelessness in the city centre for the past three years, says
“Rape is a vile act, it’s all about power and control and sadly the homeless women have little of either. Their lives are so hard already and it is heartbreaking to think of them having to endure further violation. It’s a cold world for all people who are homeless, with women and young girls particularly vulnerable and what angers me the most is the lack of apparent will to change this. The Winter Initiative can see the Government providing beds when the weather is really cold; the question is, if they can do this in Winter, why not all year round?. It doesn’t make sense. There is no coherent plan, it’s all done on a wing and a prayer and it’s not good enough. The homeless are human beings too, they have rights and they are being let down by successive Governments’ who are all talk and very little action. It’s really sad and shocking, though not surprising to see the growth in homeless young women who are using our homeless outreach services. For the first time since we started, females seeking our help outnumber males. I am seeing some 20 more females now than this time last year. We are doing our best to help them, we are there on a regular basis and this is very important as their worlds are uncertain and we are a constant which is vital. We’re a point of contact and information for them and we see them, really see them. Of course they welcome the sustenance we provide, but above all else they welcome the fact that we are there, week after week offering support, a smile, a few kind words and a listening ear. I can’t stress how important that is. They thank us for being there and for thinking of them, they appreciate being heard and being seen which to me is absolutely heartbreaking as their lives are as valuable as any”.
“It’s actually very depressing to think that here we are at the start of yet another new year and the homeless figures are rising and rising, and our Government seems either unwilling or unable to tackle it head on”.
“The weather is absolutely freezing at the moment and forecasters are predicting a chill over the next few weeks and it’s truly heartbreaking to think of people sleeping rough—a concrete pillow is what they can look forward to, it’s absolutely horrendous and the Government’s response is nothing short of disgraceful”.