Homeless facility for women and children set to re-open in Tallaght

Respond Housing Association today announced the re-opening of Cuan Álainn in Tallaght, Co. Dublin following agreement with the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive and South Dublin County Council. Originally a refuge for women and children fleeing domestic violence, Cuan Álainn will be re-opened as secure accommodation for women and children who are homeless.

Cuan Álainn was built and operated by Respond since 2012 but closed its doors in December of last year as a sustainable source of funding could not be found at that time. Respond has now secured funding for the re-opening of Cuan Álainn under Section 10 of the Housing Act 1988 providing for those who are assessed as being homeless and referred by the Local Authority.

Ned Brennan, CEO of Respond said:

“Cuan Álainn is a state-of-the-art facility specially designed for women and their children. We are delighted that doors will soon be re-opened to welcome women and children who are homeless and in need of support in order to move back into housing with support as required. At the end of March 2016, South Dublin County Council received 296 requests for emergency accommodation, including 103 families. We are pleased that Respond’s facility can go some way to addressing the immediate needs of these families”.

Since its opening, Cuan Álainn provided a safe haven for 71 mothers and 86 children who were forced to leave their own homes as a result of domestic violence.  Children in particular, need a place to call their own, where they feel safe and secure. Cuan Álainn will be that sanctuary for these children and their mothers.

Cuan Álainn has 9 specially designed units and families will be supported by qualified staff who will aim to ensure the families’ individual needs will be addressed so when they leave Cuan Álainn they will do so from a position of strength and most importantly where the move on to tenancy arrangements will be prioritised as quickly as possible. We are currently recruiting support staff for Cuan Álainn and aim to fill the units as quickly as possible.

I would like to thank Minister Alan Kelly and officials from the Department of the Environment, the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive and South Dublin County Council for recognising the value of Cuan Álainn and undertaking to ensure it has a bright future ahead, providing a real safety net for Dublin’s most vulnerable homeless families”.