RESPOND! Housing has announced that it cannot continue to fund the Cuan Álainn homeless refuge for women and children fleeing domestic violence in Tallaght. Respond has bank-rolled the refuge in Tallaght for the past three and half years without any financial support from the State.
“We cannot continue to fully subvent this service, 100% from our own resources, without any State assistance due to the cost burden. We have come to the regrettable decision to close the service in an orderly manner before the end of the year” stated Ned Brennan, Chief Executive Officer with Respond
Catering for nine families, Cuan Álainn has supported and housed 71 women and 96 children to date over the last 3 and a half years at a cost of €350,000 per annum. The charity undertook in 2012 to fund this service for 3 years but can no longer afford to do so, and is therefore confronted with an unavoidable decision to close Cuan Álainn.
Agencies, including Tusla, accept that Respond has identified a definite need to care for women (and children) who must move on from emergency refuges. Without this service women and children may now have to return home to an abusive environment or be forced to enter homelessness. Alternative arrangements are currently underway to arrange accommodation for the women and children concerned.
“The State must take its responsibility seriously and fund services for some of the most vulnerable members of our society” Mr. Brennan added
The housing charity challenges Government, in a time of economic growth, to make adequate financial provision for the funding of the Cuan Álainn service which provides a safe haven for some of the most vulnerable and broken women in our society.
Respond asks both Government Departments involved to fund this valuable service, as the cost to the State to provide alternatives will in-fact be more costly.