Barka for Mutual Help Ireland
Return & Relocation Support Programme – Annual Report 2025
01/01/2025 – 31/12/2025
BARKA IRELAND IN NUMBERS:
TOTAL NUMBER OF RECONNECTIONS IN 2025:
131 Persons
TOTAL NUMBER OF RECONNECTIONS SINCE ESTABLISHMENT:
1238 Persons
BARKA IE: Helping People Reconnect and Reintegrate
Introduction
BARKA IE is a charitable organization based in Dublin, dedicated to assisting individuals experiencing homelessness.
Established in 2011, BARKA IE is a part of the global BARKA Network, which has branches in the UK, Netherlands, Belgium, and Iceland, with its origins in Poland. The organization was founded in response to the rising number of Central and Eastern European migrants living on the streets of Ireland, struggling with homelessness and substance abuse.
Mission and Approach
BARKA IE aims to provide sustainable solutions for people experiencing homelessness. The organization primarily focuses on helping individuals reconnect with their home countries and socially reintegrate. This is facilitated through the extensive support network provided by the Barka Foundation Network in Poland, which offers opportunities for individuals to reunite with their families or receive help for addiction problems
Services Provided
BARKA IRELAND 4 core objectives are:
1. Provide Information, Advice and Repatriation to a person’s home Country
2. Assistance with Accessing Emergency Accommodation when required
3. Fostering Social and Vocational Integration – educational and community programs, creating workplaces and accessible housing programs (BARKA NETWORK)
4. Key Work and Case Management; Language and Translation Service
1. Overview |
In 2025, 131 people were supported by Barka for Mutual Help Ireland to return to their countries of origin through structured, safe and voluntary return and relocation assistance.
The programme supports EU nationals and other migrants experiencing homelessness, housing exclusion, health crisis and social vulnerability who are unable to stabilise their situation in Ireland and choose return as their only viable pathway out of crisis.
Despite periods of limited staffing capacity, the programme maintained stable and consistent delivery throughout the year.
2. Gender and Age Profile |
-
-
-
Category
Number
%
Men
80
61%
Women
34
26%
Children
17
13%
Total
131
100%
-
-
The profile reflects the demographic structure of homelessness in Dublin: predominantly single adult men, alongside a significant proportion of families with children, especially in cases of employer-linked or informal accommodation collapse.
3. Nationality Profile |
-
-
-
-
Nationality group Share
Romanian 32%
Polish 26%
Other EU nationals 42%
-
-
-
Other nationalities included German, Portuguese, Spanish, British, Irish, Hungarian, Bulgarian, Czech, Slovak, Lithuanian, Latvian, Swedish, French, Ukrainian, Norwegian and others.
This confirms that EU migrant homelessness in Dublin is multi-national, structural and growing in complexity.
4. Homelessness & PASS System |
In 2025, 43 of the 131 people supported (32.8%) were registered in the national PASS (Pathway Accommodation & Support System).
However, analysis of housing situations at point of referral shows that:
-
-
-
Housing situation Number
%
Rough sleeping / street homelessness 83
63.4%
Unsecured or temporary accommodation 48
36.6%
Total 131
100%
-
-
This demonstrates that nearly two thirds of all beneficiaries were sleeping rough or in street-based situations at the time they were referred to Barka.
PASS captures only part of this population. Many EU migrants cycle between streets, Garda, hospitals, airports and informal accommodation without formal PASS registration. Barka therefore reaches a hidden homeless population that would otherwise remain outside standard service pathways.
5. Age Profile of Beneficiaries |
Age range: from 0 to 82 years
Typical person supported by Barka is in their early to mid-30s, but with a very wide age spread, including children and elderly people.
Age Distribution
-
-
-
Age group Number
% of total
Children (0–17) 27
18.1%
Young adults (18–24) 9
7.1%
Adults (25–34) 33
25.2%
Mid-age adults (35–49) 36
28.3%
Older adults (50–64) 20
15.7%
Seniors (65+) 7
5.5%
Total 131
100%
-
-
1 in 4 people are either children or seniors
These are high-vulnerability groups that:
- cannot self-resolve homelessness
- require safeguarding, healthcare and social protection
- face extreme risk if left in street homelessness or unstable housing
6. Referral Pathways |
Referrals came predominantly from frontline emergency and statutory services:
-
Referral source % of all referrals
An Garda Síochána (incl. Airport Police) 21%
MQI (incl. Lighthouse) 11.5%
Capuchin Day Centre 11.5%
Focus Ireland / Focus Family Centre 9.2%
ITAS 7.6%
Hospitals (St James’s, Beaumont, St Vincent’s) 6.1%
HSE Social Inclusion Teams 6.1%
Simon Community 4.6%
DRHE 2.3%
Prisons (Cloverhill, Dochas) 2.3%
Other NGOs 8.4%
Over 40% of all referrals originated directly from State services (Garda, HSE, hospitals, prisons, DRHE), confirming that Barka operates inside Dublin’s crisis-response system, not outside it.
7. Operational Performance |
Despite staffing constraints during part of 2025, Barka delivered:
- 131 safe and coordinated returns
- sustained collaboration with all major homelessness and addiction services
- strong engagement with consulates, hospitals, prisons and Gardaí
This reflects high efficiency, prioritisation of high-risk cases, and strong inter-agency trust.
8. Strategic Conclusions |
- Return support is a homelessness intervention
With one third of clients in PASS and two thirds sleeping rough or in street-based situations, return support has become a core homelessness exit pathway for EU migrants in Dublin. - Demand is structural, not temporary
The wide nationality spread and increasing family cases indicate that migrant homelessness is not resolving itself. - The programme generates system-wide savings
Each return prevents long-term use of emergency accommodation, hospital beds, Garda time and NGO crisis services.
9. Outlook for 2026 |
Based on 2025 trends, Barka expects:
- increased referrals from Garda, hospitals and emergency accommodation
- a higher proportion of PASS-registered EU migrants
- more families losing housing and requiring return as the only viable option
Return support will therefore become even more critical to Dublin City Council’s homelessness and migration management strategy.
10. Final Statement |
In 2025, Barka for Mutual Help Ireland supported 131 of the most vulnerable people in Dublin to exit homelessness and social crisis through safe, structured return.
With 63% coming directly from street homelessness and over 40% referred by State services, the programme is now a strategic component of Dublin’s homelessness response and a high-impact, cost-effective intervention for the City.
Success Story 1 – Nauris (Romania)
From street homelessness to family reunification
Nauris came to Ireland after being promised a job and accommodation. When he arrived in Dublin, he discovered that everything he had been told was false. For six weeks he slept on the streets, relying on soup kitchens and, for a short time, emergency night shelters. Eventually even this support ran out and he was left completely homeless.
By the time Barka met him, Nauris had visibly deteriorated. When he showed his passport – needed to arrange his return – staff could barely recognise the exhausted, bearded man he had become.
With Barka’s support, Nauris was able to return safely to Romania, where his wife and two teenage children were waiting for him. What began as a journey built on deception ended in a dignified return home.
Nauris’ story is not unique. Many EU migrants arrive in Ireland expecting stability, only to become trapped in homelessness. Barka provides a vital way out.
Success Story 2 – Małgorzata (Poland)
Escaping abuse and returning home with dignity
Małgorzata, an 83-year-old woman, was brought to Ireland by her son. Over time, his alcohol addiction led to escalating verbal and physical abuse. Eventually the situation became so traumatic that Małgorzata cannot even remember how she escaped. A neighbour intervened and helped her reach a women’s refuge.
At the shelter she received food, clothing, emotional support and medical assessment. She was later admitted to hospital, where early signs of dementia were detected. After one month, doctors confirmed she was fit to live independently and could be discharged.
The shelter contacted Barka, and Małgorzata confirmed she wanted to return to Poland. Her bank card was blocked and her son refused to help, so Barka arranged and funded her flight. With support from hospital staff and Gardaí, she was safely escorted to collect her passport and belongings and then accompanied to the airport.
Małgorzata returned to Poland, where a family member met her. She continues medical treatment, attends a senior club and is planning to learn English — something she had always dreamed of doing. She repeatedly says that Barka “saved her life”.
Success Story 3 – Jerzy (Poland)
From chronic homelessness to recovery and hope
Jerzy (59) had lived in Ireland for over 10 years. After losing his job and driving licence due to alcohol addiction, his health deteriorated and he became homeless. He was registered in PASS and lived in a hostel, but spent most days drinking in public spaces. His mobility and appearance worsened and his future looked bleak.
Barka staff kept in contact with Jerzy through day centres and street outreach, encouraging him to consider returning to Poland for treatment and stability. After many months, he agreed — as long as a Barka worker would accompany him.
Barka secured him a place at Barka in Poznań, arranged a temporary passport and travel, and travelled with him back to Poland. After rest and assessment, Jerzy was referred to a residential addiction treatment programme.
Today, Jerzy remains in regular contact. He proudly describes his new conditions as “luxurious” — including a medical bed — and is focused on achieving sobriety and reconnecting with his family. His success has already inspired another friend in Ireland to plan a return.
Quarterly monitoring report on the work of BARKA for Mutual Help IE with the Central and Eastern European citizens in Dublin 01/01/24 – 31/03/2024
In our migrant support projects, we work in teams of two; a leader and a social assistant. The leader is a person who has a personal experience of homelessness and addiction, that they combated with Barka Network’s educational and community programs. The social assistant is a person who is familiar with the languages that our clients speak and regulations in Ireland and has a formal education (e.g. a degree in social work, psychology, etc.) Together, they work in a team to help individuals reconnect with their families in other countries.
| SUPPORTING EASTERN EUROPEAN MIGRANTS IN DUBLIN |
BARKA IRELAND 4 core objectives are:
- Provide Information, Advice and Repatriation to a person’s home Country
- Assistance with Accessing Emergency Accommodation when required
- Fostering Social and Vocational Integration – educational and community programs, creating workplaces and accessible housing programmes (BARKA NETWORK)
- Key Work and Case Management; Language and Translation Service
- Type of contacts:
At BARKA, the incredible tenacity of our employees has enabled us to continue to be able to tackle homelessness head on. We work tirelessly to offer face-to-face services – and we continue to offer vital support and advice remotely. From January to March 2024 we’ve had 405 contacts with 90 individuals. We’ve had regular contact with many of the people whom we’ve met for the first time in previous years. In the meantime, we also met 62 newcomers.
Most of these contacts were made via outreach work at the main squares and shopping centres of Dublin, where many homeless people gather. We work in close partnership with Local Councils, Outreach Teams and Day Centres. across Dublin (Capuchin Day Centre, Merchants Quay Ireland, Simon Community Outreach team, Focus Ireland, and The Light House to name a few). Social workers in hospitals and prisons are in contact with our team to assist clients from these places.
Barka’s team also has regular contact and supports people over the phone, email and social media. Barka’s team is also assisting groups of homeless people who do not use services such as day support centers.
- Nationality of people we met
|
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN |
Total: | 90 |
| Romania | 40.00% | 36 |
| Poland | 22.00% | 20 |
| Latvia | 9.00% | 8 |
| Ukraine | 7.00% | 6 |
| Lithuania | 6.00% | 5 |
| Slovakia | 6.00% | 5 |
| UK | 1.00% | 2 |
| Other: Czech Rep, Netherlands, Hungary, Germany, Finland Bulgaria, France, Belgium | 9.00% | 8 |
| RECONNECTIONS |
From the 1st January 2024 until 31st of March 2024 there were
33 persons reconnected:
22 men
5 women
6 youngsters
Including 2 families
- Nationality
|
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN |
Total: |
33 |
| Romania | 10 | 30,3% |
| Poland | 5 | 15,2% |
| Slovakia | 4 | 12% |
| Lithuania | 3 | 9,1% |
| Czech Rep | 2 | 6% |
| UK | 2 | 6% |
| Hungary | 1 | 3% |
| Finland | 1 | 3% |
| Latvia | 1 | 3% |
| Ireland | 1 | 3% |
| Bulgaria | 1 | 3% |
| France | 1 | 3% |
| Netherlands | 1 | 3% |
BARKA supported individuals of 13 nationalities – 14 from EU and 1 from outside the EU.
The majority of homeless people who’ve returned to their countries with Barka’s support are Romanians, but our team also works with clients of other nationalities, mainly Polish, Lithuanian and Slovak citizens. Communicating with homeless groups is made easier due to the presence of Barka leaders who are former homeless persons with many years of training and preparation from Barka.
- Destination
| Reconnection destination | Number of reconnections |
|
Family in the country of origin |
30 |
|
To BARKA/ another organization/another country |
3 |
- BARKA’S team also supported 2 persons with obtaining documents necessary for travel.
- Situation of reconnected persons
| ACCOMMODATION | Total: | 33 | |
| Rough/tent/car/airport/Garda station | 21 | ||
| Friend’s couch | 10 | ||
| Hostels | 2 | ||
| Rented accomodation/HAP/social housing | 0 | ||
|
Hospital |
0 | ||
|
Prison |
0 | ||
Most of our beneficiaries are rough sleepers: sleeping in a tent in the woods, in parks and squares, on a friend’s couch or in a car. A significant number of those looking for BARKA’S support were seeking shelter at the Dublin Airport or Garda Stations.
- Majority of people reconected by BARKA are males
| GENDER | |||
|
Males |
76% | 25 | |
|
Females |
24% | 8 | |
- Referrals:
| ORGANIsATION/
INSTITUTION |
Number of persons reconnected |
|
Capuchin Day Centre |
3 |
|
MQI |
4 |
|
Focus Family Services/Focus Coffee shop |
8 |
|
Hostels/HSE /DRHE |
1 |
| Simon Outreach Team |
4 |
|
Cairdea |
0 |
| Garda/Airport Police/ITAS |
12 |
|
Homeless people /Internet |
1 |
|
St Vincent’s/Mater Hospital |
0 |
|
Wheatfield Prison |
0 |
|
Total: |
33 |
| Cooperation with other institutions and organisations |
| ORGANISATION/
INSTITUTION |
FREQUENCY
OF CONTACT |
TYPE OF COOPERATION |
| Consulates | As required | Travel documents |
| Merchants Quay Ireland | 1-2 x a week or as required | Facilitate the communication with persons, participating in Intercultural day |
| Hospitals | As required | Facilitate the communication with patients, cooperation with social assistants |
| Anonymous Alcoholics | 1x a month | Exchanging information, cooperation concerning homeless in poor health condition, putting in touch with homeless people |
| Capuchins Day Centre | 4x a week | Facilitate the communication with persons, accepting referrals |
| The Lighthouse | 2 x a week | Facilitate the communication with persons, accepting referrals
|
| Focus Ireland Family Services | As required | Facilitate the communication with persons, accepting referrals |
| Prisons/Garda/Airport Police | As required |
Accepting referrals |
| HSE, DRHE | As required | Exchanging information, accepting referrals |
| Dublin Simon Outreach Team |
As required |
Exchanging information, cooperation concerning homeless sleaping rough, accepting referrals |
|
Cairdea |
As required |
Exchanging information, cooperation concerning homeless sleaping rough, accepting referrals |
| Peter McVery Trust |
As required |
Exchanging information, accepting referrals |
| Dublin’s streets, main squares | 1-2x a day | Daily patrols, contact with a homeless people |
Monitoring ANNUAL report on the work of BARKA for Mutual Help with the Central and Eastern European citizens in Dublin 01/01 – 31/12/2022
| RECONNECTIONS |
TOTAL NUMBER OF RECONNECTIONS 2012–2022: 813 PERSONS
From the 1/01 until 31/12/2022 there were
113 people reconnected:
NATIONALITY
| Country of origin | Number of reconnections | |
| Romania | 61 | 54.00% |
| Poland | 26 | 23.00% |
| Latvia | 6 |
23% |
| Lithuania | 5 | |
| Slovakia | 4 | |
| Ukraine | 3 | |
| Czech Rep | 3 | |
| Germany | 2 | |
| Hungary | 1 | |
| Denmark | 1 | |
| Italy | 1 | |
| Total | 113 | |
| Passports | 26 |
GENDER
The majority of people relocated are males.
| GENDER | Total: | 113 |
| Males | 64 | 57.00% |
| Females | 19 | 17.00% |
| Children | 30 | 26.00% |
REFFERALS:
| Refferals from: | Total: 113 |
| Charity organisations | 79 |
| Homeless people | 10 |
| Garda\Airport Police | 10 |
| Prison/hospital | 9 |
| Internet | 5 |
| Reconnection destination | Number of reconnections |
| Family/friends in the country of origin | 110 |
| To BARKA CHUDOBCZYCE |
3 |
Since the beginning of 2022 the average number of reconnections was on the level we observed before the pandemic.
Since the year 2021 we observed an increase in the number of individuals seeking repatriation due to an ever-increasing number of homeless and particularly large Romanian families, who have come in contact with Barka.
Most of the people we’ve dealt with between January and December of 2022 were Romanian and citizens. Almost every day we were receiving referrals or were contacted directly by newcomers.
All reconnected individuals were homeless persons using emergency acommodation or becouse of different reasons sleeping rough (victims of crimes, human trafficking, cheated by the employers, persons who are affraid of substance using at hostels, couples wishing to stay together etc)
They contact Barka via hostels’ key workers, Garda, HSE officers, and other homeless people.
CONTACTS
- NATIONALITY OF PEOPLE WE’VE MET
2022
| NATIONALITY | Contacts total: | 573 |
| Poland
|
254 |
44.00% |
|
Romania
|
244 | 42.00% |
|
Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Czech Republic, Ukraine, Slovakia, Italy, Germany, Denmark
|
75 | 14.00% |
Monitoring ANNUAL report on the work of BARKA for Mutual Help with the Central and Eastern European citizens in Dublin 01/01 – 31/12/2021
This report presents data covering the year 2021, providing the insight into the impact of the Covid-19 ‘lockdown’ period on homelessness.
|
OUR MISSION |
The mission of Barka IE is to provide severely excluded Eastern European migrants with the opportunity for reconnection and social reintegration. We can support individuals within Barka Network projects in Poland, help them return to their families, or support them in addressing their addictions and going into rehab.
In our migrants’ support projects, we work in teams of two people: a leader and an assistant. A leader is a person who has personal experience with homelessness and addiction, that is combated and rehabilitated within the Barka Network educational and community programs. The assistant is a person who knows a foreign language, has a formal education (e.g a degree in social work, psychology), and provides support to the leader. This method of work proved to be very effective in London, Dublin, Hamburg, and Utrecht.
|
SUPPORTING EASTERN EUROPEAN MIGRANTS IN DUBLIN |
BARKA core objectives are:
1. Support to homeless and rough sleeping Central and Eastern European nationals towards reconnection to Home Countries
2. Assistance with Accessing Emergency Accommodation in Dublin when required
3. Assistance with Accessing rehabilitation and therapy, vocal training and a job in the home country.
-
Fostering Social and Vocational Integration – educational and community programs, creating workplaces, and accessible housing program (BARKA NETWORK in Central and Eastern Europe).
-
Key Working and Case Management; Assistance in Social service institutions and public offices, Language and Translation Service in Polish, English, and Russian.
-
BARKA’S cooperation with Eastern European Consulates and Embassies in Dublin results in arranging passport documents for beneficiaries in a relatively short period of time.
FORMS OF SUPPORT:
-
financial assistance 131 persons
-
reconnection support 131 persons
-
social care/psychological/health assistance 453 persons
-
other: 12 persons
|
RECONNECTIONS |
2021
From January until December of 2021 there were
131 people reconnected:
56 men
43 children
32 women
NATIONALITY
-
Country of origin
Number of reconnections
Romania
92 (70%)
Poland
13 (10%)
Lithuania
11 (8%)
Hungary
7 (5,5%)
Latvia
6 (4,5%)
Czech Republic
1 (1%)
Netherlands
1 (1%)
Total
131
1 Q 2021
From January until March of 2021 there were
56 people reconnected:
21 men
13 women
22 children
NATIONALITY
-
Country of origin
Number of reconnections
Romania
51
Lithuania
2
Poland
2
Netherlands
1
Total
56
2 Q 2021
From April until June of 2021 there were
18 people reconnected:
11 men
5 women
2 children
NATIONALITY
-
Country of origin
Number of reconnections
Romania
7
Poland
7
Latvia
3
Hungary
1
Total
18
3 Q 2021
From July until September of 2021 there were
33 people reconnected:
8 men
8 women
17 children
NATIONALITY
-
Country of origin
Number of reconnections
Romania
25
Poland
4
Lithuania
2
Latvia
1
Hungary
1
Total
33
4 Q 2022
From October until December of 2021 there were
24 people reconnected:
16 men
6 women
2 children
NATIONALITY
-
Country of origin
Number of reconnections
Romania
9
Poland
7
Hungary
5
Latvia
2
Czech Republic
1
Total
24
2. RECONNECTION DESTINATION
2021
|
Reconnection destination |
Number of reconnections |
|
Family/friends in the country of origin |
131 |
|
To BARKA/other organizations in other CEE country |
2 |
1 Q 2021
|
Reconnection denstination |
Number of reconnections |
|
Family/friends in the country of origin |
56 |
|
To BARKA/other organizations in other CEE country |
0 |
2 Q 2021
|
Reconnection destination |
Number of reconnections |
|
Family/friends in the country of origin |
16 |
|
To BARKA/other organizations in other CEE country |
2 |
3 Q 2021
|
Reconnection destination |
Number of reconnections |
|
Family/friends in the country of origin |
33 |
|
To BARKA/other organizations in other CEE country |
0 |
4 Q 2021
|
Reconnection destination |
Number of reconnections |
|
Family/friends in the country of origin |
24 |
|
To BARKA/other organizations in other CEE country |
0 |
The largest effect of the pandemic was an increase in the number of individuals who have been seeking repatriation through BARKA. It has risen twice due to an ever-increasing number of homeless and particularly Romanian families who have come in contact with Barka.
Barka supported the reconnection of 131 people. In the same period of 2020, we repatriated 65 persons.
A significant percentage of our beneficiaries were seeking our support shortly after arrival – 4-6 weeks. Those people were unable to settle down in Ireland and were seeking repatriation 21 of them were families.
|
TYPE OF CONTACTS |
From January to December of 2021 we have had 1,696 contacts with 527 individuals. We have had regular contact with many people who we’ve met in previous years, and we have also had 453 newcomers.
During the year 2021, we have been contacted by many newcomers in the toughest situations. With prolonged waiting time for a PPS number, many people were unable to find a job and as a result not being able to pay their rent. We were in contact with clients using HSE “quarantined” services.
Most of our clients live in hostels, but at the same time, more and more migrants come to Ireland. Those are not interested in reconnections and we link them with social and homeless services in Dublin.
We also meet many people cheated by employers and friends. We receive many phone calls and emails from outside Dublin – mostly from Cork and Galway.
With services such as churches and coffee shops closed or only partially opened they have nowhere to go to have a shower, have a cup of tea, or charge their phone and get out of the rain and cold. In the terms of preventing homelessness, it was crucial to offer reconnection.
In the same situations were people with a long background of homelessness who have had no access to emergency accommodation or prefer to not use it.
Hospitals and prisons social workers were in contact with our team to assist clients in their care.
BARKA’S team was also in contact with a group of homeless people who do not use services such as day support centers.
|
BARKA’S RESPONSE TO COVID-19 RELATED ISSUES AMONG HOMELESS AND VULNERABLE PEOPLE |
The Coronavirus pandemic has posed a significant challenge for BARKA’S services and people experiencing homelessness in Dublin. According to research, people who are experiencing homelessness were more vulnerable to infectious diseases causing them to have difficulties adhering to public health directives and the high prevalence among them of long-term health conditions. In Ireland, the homeless community has been the most affected population group during the COVID-19 pandemic with 65% of homeless service providers stating that the homeless community’s health and wellbeing have been highly impacted.
The BARKA team has faced facing new challenges. For example, we’ve had situations where hostel staff refused to rent rooms to our clients. Travel restrictions such as negative test results are required by airlines and border services have added new tasks to our everyday work. Thank the project supported by the Polish Embassy in Dublin we were able to provide our 13 Polish clients with accommodation immediately before the journey.
Our clients’ needs are more complex with the likes of large families, young children, victims of human trafficking and domestic violence, people with mental issues, etc. Many persons required special assistance at the airport.
We also supported 5 clients with applying for passports.
BARKA’s key activities in preventing the spread and effects of COVID-19:
– Distribution of face masks and hand sanitizers
– Organising Covid testing: 83 people
– Organising appropriate places for quarantine for those returning to their home country: 12 people
– Linking clients to homeless services, housing, medical, mental health, syringe services, and substance use treatment. Reaching out to these clients regularly to ensure they are being linked to care as necessary.
– Information and advice. Providing information about COVID-19 and other practical information to non-English speakers and those with low literacy or intellectual disabilities.
– Ensuring communication with clients about changes in homeless service policies and/or changes in necessities such as food, water, hygiene facilities, shelters, regular healthcare, and behavioral health resources.
– Reducing social isolation. We were communicating via phone, email, and personal contact with our clients, offering a comforting chat and advice.
Supporting vulnerable and complex people‘s needs, especially in the midst of a fast-changing and unpredictable crisis requires BARKA’s holistic, creative, and compassionate support more than ever.
|
CLIENT CHARACTERISTICS |
1. NATIONALITY OF PEOPLE WE’VE MET IN 2021
-
NATIONALITY
total:
527
Poland
259
49.00%
Romania
229
43,5%
Lithuania
18
3,5%
Latvia
11
2,5%
Hungary
8
1,5%
Netherlands
1
0.25%
Belgium
1
0.25%
Czech Republic
1
0.25%
France
1
0.25%
Most of the people we’ve dealt with in the year 2021 were Polish and Romanian citizens. Almost every day we‘ve received referrals or have been contacted directly by newcomers. We observed another wave of the influx of Romanian migrants, usually large families with young children in the toughest situations, who came to Ireland completely unprepared: with no money, no place to stay, and no secured job. Many of those families seek reconnection and tickets to fly back home in 4-6 weeks after arriving in Ireland.
Most of them were provided by emergency accommodation and food. They contact Barka via hostels’ key workers, HSE officers, and other homeless persons. We are always trying to meet those families and their key workers a few times before making the decision of reconnection, to make sure they really need our support. We also ask if a family has somewhere to go in the home country. If needed we link them with the local social and family support services.
Our contact with beneficiaries is rather informal, mostly focused on building trust. Initially, we would know people by their first name, then with time the person would open up and we would learn more about their personal and professional situation.
The Barka team speaks Polish and Russian (common second languages) and it facilitates communication with beneficiaries of most foreign nationalities in Ireland. A large number of our clients seek our assistance with contacting social welfare, health care, bank, tax office, courts, etc.
Communicating in their native language also lets the beneficiaries become more open, more trusting, and more ready to share private information.
We’ve worked hard to provide information, advice, comforting conversations, and also motivation for reconnection.
At the end of September Barka’s social assistant took part in 10 days of training in Poland.
2. SITUATION OF HOMELESS/VULNERABLE PEOPLE
|
ACCOMMODATION |
total: |
527 |
|
|
Hostels/family hubs |
245 |
46,5% |
|
|
Private rented accommodation /HAP/ social housing |
127 |
24,5% |
|
|
Rough/tent/friends couch |
89 |
16,5% |
|
|
HSE Isolation centre |
50 |
9,5% |
|
|
Prison/Hospital |
16 |
3.00% |
|
In the year 2021, the majority – 46,5% – of our clients were accommodated in hostels or family hubs. A further 24,5% were renting and 16,5% slept on the streets, in parks, in car parks, under a tent in the city centre etc.
We observed that during the pandemic crisis every homeless person was offered a place in some form of a shelter.
9,5% of clients have been referred to BARKA by HSE: SafetyNet isolation centre.
Since the lock-down started we have been contacted by 4 new groups of vulnerable people:
– Those who lost their jobs and accommodation after their employers were forced to close their business
– People who came to Ireland to look for a job but fell into a bureaucratic trap. Their lack of knowledge of the Irish system as well as the English language with the combination of offices and many other places closed from the public result in problems with obtaining PPS numbers, finding jobs, registering as homeless people and finding suitable accommodation.
– People who came to Ireland to work but was cheated by employers or job agencies
– Clients with mental issues which condition worsens because of pandemics and those who left their countries because of a fear of COVID-19.
Our clients from the group above all suffered from either stress or anxiety. Most of them had to stay in inappropriate and insecure accommodations: either on a friend’s couch, in overcrowded apartments, or outside. Some of them have no one to speak to – with a minimal grasp of the English language, friends, or any familiar face.
Closure or limiting recovery services and day centres led to a lack of human contact. Our clients miss socializing with friends, having a chat over a hot meal or a cup of tea. Friends groups have been separated and accommodated in different hostels. It definitely has an impact on their mental health. In situations such as these, the presence of the BARKA team was crucial. Our work is based on creating bonds with our clients, building trust and confidentiality. During our street patrols, we offer chats, advice and comfort.
People experiencing homelessness often find it difficult to adhere to public health directives such as physical distancing, isolation and quarantine because of their addictions and social maladjustment.
3. GENDER
The majority of people we are in contact with are males.
|
GENDER |
total: |
154 |
|
| Males |
386 |
73.00% |
|
| Females |
141 |
27.00% |
|
4. GROUPS AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS
The first group of homeless people we have been contacted mostly were between 35 and 55 years of age. It has been a shift from previous years when the dominating group was younger people – up to age 35.
|
AGE |
total: |
527 |
|
|
Over 35 |
278 |
53.00% |
|
|
Up to 35 |
182 |
34,5% |
|
|
Over 55 |
67 |
12,5% |
|
During the pandemic, we have observed an increased number of Eastern European citizens who have found themselves in extremely difficult situations because of the COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions.
This refers mostly to the people who have just come to Ireland. Some of them were hoping for a job, and some had their positions arranged before their arrival. Unfortunately, after the 13th of March 2020, their plans were crushed and left without any support. From our contact with these people, we understand that some had planned to stay in Ireland but the majority were desperate to go back home and we were able to help all of them with reconnections.
Some beneficiaries were still unfamiliar with their rights and entitlements or social support/social welfare systems due to language difficulties and this, combined with their other life events contribute to their homelessness.
COOPERATION WITH OTHER INSTITUTIONS AND ORGANISATIONS
We maintained facilitated cooperation with other organisations and institutions involved in the problemacy of homelessness. Regular meetings with social assistants or officials are important for the holistic view of somebody’s situation and give the possibility to share ideas or experiences.
|
Organization/institution |
Frequency of contact |
Type of cooperation |
|
Dublin Simon Community |
2-3x a month |
Exchanging information, referrals |
|
St Vincent de Paul |
2x a month |
Facilitate the communication with persons |
|
Hospitals/Prisons |
2x a month |
Facilitate the communication with clients, cooperation with social assistants, reconnections |
|
Merchants Quay Ireland |
2x a week |
Exchanging information, Good place to make contact with people, to have a peaceful talk; very good equipped to cover basic needs – shower, clothes, doctor; MQI refers to us clients seeking support with reconnection |
|
Focus Ireland |
2-3x a month |
Exchanging information, referrals |
|
HSE SafetyNet and other organisations isolation centres |
2-4x a month |
Reconnections referrals, facilitate the communication with persons, referrals to quarantines |
|
Little Flower Dinners |
1x a week |
Lunchtime patrols |
|
Cairde |
1-3x a week |
Reconnections, quarantines, testing referrals, translations service |
|
CKU – Centre for Counseling and Therapy |
1x a month |
Referring Polish clients experiencing addictions |
|
Capuchin Day Centre |
Exchanging information, Good place to make contact with people, to have a peaceful talk; very good equipped to cover basic needs – hot food, clothes, doctor; CDC refers to us clients seeking support with reconnection |
|
|
Garda/Airport Police |
1x week |
referring clients seeking support with reconnection |
|
Treshhold |
1x month |
Referring clients in private rented accommodation at risk of homelessness, eviction |
|
BARKA CLIENTS OPINIONS |
Joanna: “I would like to thank Dublin Barka for all their help. The Barka team are great people. Once again I would like to thank them for all their support”.
Elzbieta and Pawel: “We would like to express our sincere thanks to the Barka Foundation for their hard work. Without your support, it would be impossible to bring our dad back home. Thank you very much for your compassion and huge commitment.
Thank you very much. We can recommend your service to everyone who found themselves in a similar critical situation.”
|
PUBLICATIONS ABOUT BARKA |
INFO DESK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvxtfmxUsF4
THE IRISH TIMES: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/covid-quarantine-centre-many-are-completely-destitute-they-have-nothing-1.4405527
THE IRISH TIMES: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/there-was-no-key-to-the-room-so-i-couldn-t-lock-the-door-and-people-were-on-drugs-1.4035462
IRISH EXAMINER: https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-40054817.html
W IRLANDII: https://wirlandii.pl/2019/10/przyjechali-do-irlandii-w-poszukiwaniu-lepszej-przyszlosci/
PEPE TV: https://www.pepe-tv.eu/polacy-pomagaja-bezdomnym-w-dublinie/
TVP POLONIA https://polonia.tvp.pl/48045493/polacy-pomagaja-bezdomnym-w-dublinie
LONDYNEK.NET: https://londynek.net/czytelnia/article?jdnews_id=4558269
