Rough sleepers at risk as charity highlights autistic girl left in tent during -2C temperatures

New figures show 250 beds have been made available for homeless people in Dublin as part of the cold weather strategy. Picture: Leah Farrell / RollingNews.ie

A voluntary group which supports homeless people has appealed for help for rough sleepers, including an autistic girl currently living in a tent on the streets of Dublin.

A Lending Hand is appealing for support as temperatures dip to -2C in parts of Dublin.

“We have so many homeless people like the autistic girl living in a tent, who, for one reason or another, cannot access emergency accommodation. We feel we have exhausted most avenues in trying to work with the people who can provide beds. We have had radio silence now for three weeks," the organisation's founder said.

Keira Gill was speaking as new figures show 250 beds have been made available for homeless people in Dublin as part of the cold weather strategy.

The Department of Housing said the initiative to help rough sleepers was now in full operation across all local authorities to provide additional emergency beds where needed.

The arrangements, which started in November, are to “ensure that additional temporary beds can be brought into use across a range of existing services and facilities, for singles and couples who need them during periods of cold weather”, a spokesperson said.

The cold-weather arrangements are typically introduced in November, they added.

"These beds are temporary in nature, and it is a matter for individual local authorities to determine the number of beds required and the period of their operation."

The department said it contacted the regional lead authorities in September to ensure all local authorities were aware of their responsibilities when it comes to rough sleepers and that funding has been made available.

In Dublin alone, where the majority of rough sleepers reside, the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive activated its cold weather strategy, which provides a total of 250 new permanent beds.

“An additional 76 beds can be activated as part of the extreme weather emergency protocol when a weather warning is triggered," the department spokesperson added.

However, Ms Gill said: “Putting on 200 beds during the day between 10am and 10pm is fine, but after 10pm, there is no way for anyone to access emergency accommodation as we have been trying for weeks. The freephone closes then, and there are no beds.”