Naas homeless need hot meals appeals Catholic Deacon with calls for restaurants and hotels to support a new emergency plan
Hungry homeless people in Naas are now coming to the door of the Catholic church seeking help spurring the local Deacon to plan appeals for the town's hotels and restaurants to start providing hot meals.
According to Peter O'Byrne, volunteer with St Vincent De Paul, Co Kildare, for the past 15 years, homelessness is at a 'crisis' point in Naas town. Following appeals on the Parish Newsletter for accommodation to assist a single mother with two young girls, the family still remain in a Newbridge B&B. Noone as yet has answered the calls for accommodation to help this family by St Vincent De Paul, confirms Mr O'Byrne.
Currently the waiting list for housing is at an all time high, says Mr O'Byrne. Landlords are increasingly refusing the Housing Assistance Payment( HAP), he says. The HAP scheme aims to allow all social housing supports to be accessed through one body - the local authority - and to enable people to take up full-time employment and keep their housing support.
Meanwhile, Fergal O'Neill, an ordained Deacon who is a volunteer for the Catholic Church, reports that at least five people a month, ranging in ages, turn up at the door, of Our Lady & David's Church, Naas.
He said: "Something has to be done. Four to five times a month people come looking for help, it could be for medication, food or just someone to talk to."
Rev. O'Neill is now liasing with St Vincent De Paul, Naas, on plans to get each restaurants and hotel providing two hot meals per month, for the hungry in the town. He estimates that about 30 people could be fed on this scheme.
Plans are in place to contact the businesses, with proposals to offer vouchers so that the homeless and hungry can eat meals with dignity.
Meanwhile, husband and wife team, Esther and Fergal McCarthy, established a Food Bank in Naas town centre, five years ago.
Based at The Church, Main St, the initiative has raised an average of €10,000 through local fundraising support, it is estimated.
The charity provides mainly non-perishable foods donated by local shops but also provides other foods, including fruit and bread. There are over 15 volunteers operating the Food Bank, which distributes free food between 10.30am and 11.30am, every Tuesday, and also delivers to those in need, if they can't make the queue on Tuesday.
However, while acknowledging the great work being carried out by the Food Bank, Naas,Rev O'Neill in the Catholic Church is concerned that the hungry in Naas are on a large scale not getting hot meals.