Home Sweet Home say that eight residents have been forced to return to Apollo House due to the poor standard of alternative accommodation offered.
Eight residents of Apollo House have been forced to return to the building after refusing to stay in alternative accommodation offered to them to the government.
Home Sweet Home released a statement on Tuesday night to call for support for a rally in support of Apollo House on Wednesday morning, confirming that they will be seeking an extension to a court-ordered deadline to leave the premises by midday tomorrow (January 11).
We've been forced to issue this press release. We're asking for dignity, safety and respect for #apollohouse residents. pic.twitter.com/EY439XJLhd
— HomeSweetHome (@HSHIreland) January 10, 2017
The Home Sweet Home statement carried testimonies from a number of residents who returned to Apollo House after refusing the alternative accommodation offered to them by the government.
One Apollo House resident claimed that they were “put in a room full of heroin bags, crack pipes and walls covered in blood”.
Tweets from the Home Sweet Home account, meanwhile, included images of the accommodation refused by residents who subsequently returned to Apollo House.
Wondering what we mean by standards? One resident took these photos in the place he was offered today and refused https://t.co/cf2DejQwgE pic.twitter.com/PxataBqm76
— HomeSweetHome (@HSHIreland) January 10, 2017
Pics via Twitter/HomeSweetHome
We'd like to see the people moved from #apollohouse go to somewhere with a minimum standard of cleanliness. https://t.co/8WAurbXMOa pic.twitter.com/4ctepxrCXX
— HomeSweetHome (@HSHIreland) January 10, 2017
We'd like people moved from #apollohouse to at least have a good bed. A comparison of herevs "official" hostel https://t.co/2MdtMWIo08 pic.twitter.com/qpQccPQrqx
— HomeSweetHome (@HSHIreland) January 10, 2017
Simon Coveney, the Housing Minister, has said that two new facilities for the homeless, which cost in excess of €4m, will include units suitable for single persons and couples, and they will also promote independent living.
Home Sweet Home campaigners say that the Government has “abandoned its commitment to address their (residents of Apollo House) needs, mere hours after promising it would”.
Details on the rally at Apollo House on Wednesday morning can be found here.
Main image via Twitter/HomeSweetHome
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