Powerful RTÉ Investigates documentary sheds light on homelessness situation in Dublin

There was a strong reaction to the Stuck In The Rough on Monday night.

In a documentary aired on Monday night, RTÉ Investigates showed the challenges faced by rough sleepers in Dublin and how some are refused accommodation in winter despite beds being available. In stuck in the Rough, one homeless man was seen contacting the Dublin Region Homeless Executive (DRHE) looking for a bed on a particular night, only to be told that there were none available. The man, from Carlow, was told that he needed to contact his former local authority despite being on the streets in Dublin, on a cold night during the pandemic. He was also told that that they were not "interested" in his story. A statement provided by DRHE in the documentary read: "Just to be very clear, we're the Dublin Region Homeless Executive. We're not responsible for providing homeless accommodation for everybody in the country."

"We’re looking at everybody on a case by case basis. We've taken the letter from the Minister extremely seriously. Just to be very clear, we're the Dublin Region Homeless Executive. We're not responsible for providing homeless accomm for everybody in the country" #RTEInvestigates pic.twitter.com/uUnsRaCFAr

— RTÉ (@rte) January 18, 2021

Mike Allen from Focus Ireland appeared on the show to encourage people to commit to ending homelessness. He said: "It's extremely dangerous. If you're sleeping rough, you couldn't be more exposed as a human being in modern society." Focus Ireland has urged people to sign a petition to end homelessness, which "calls on the leaders of the three Government parties to make a Government commitment to end homelessness". The documentary received a strong reaction on social media, with many criticising Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien. In December of 2020, O'Brien told Morning Ireland that nobody is being denied a hostel bed, which was called out by RTÉ Investigates on Monday night.