Homelessness


In general, the options which are open to migrants who find themselves homeless will depend on their residency status, the length of time that they have been in the country and also their means. They may be able to apply for assistance from one or more of the following:
  • Local Community Welfare Officer: Whether or not a person is eligible for assistance will depend on their legal status and may depend on whether or not they are habitually resident in Ireland.
  • The Health Services Executive, Asylum Seekers & New Communities Unit on 77 Upper Gardiner Street can provide information on and assessment for entitlements for homeless Non-Irish Nationals whose homelessness occurs in the Dublin region. Outside the Dublin region, it is the responsibility of the Local Authority.
  • Repatriation of Destitute EU12 nationals who wish to return to their home country. In accordance with a Government decision, the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) arranges for the repatriation of destitute EU12 nationals (the 10 Accession States from 1 May, 2004 plus Bulgaria and Romania from 1 January, 2007) on an agency basis for the Department of Social Protection.
  • Voluntary Repatriation - Where a person’s entitlement to remain in Ireland has expired or they are found to be illegally present in the State, one of the options available to them is to voluntarily leave the State before a deportation order is made against them. The Department of Justice and Equality, in conjunction with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has been offering voluntary return programmes for asylum seekers and other irregular migrants in Ireland since 2001.






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