A Galway City Councillor has called for immediate action regarding the standard and quality of private emergency accommodation in the city.
Helen Ogbu said a detailed inspection policy needs to be in place for all properties being assigned to vulnerable people.
Her comments come in the wake of what she called a "deeply troubling situation" involving a constituent who recently became homeless with his wife and young child.
The family of three were allocated a room through a private emergency accommodation provider on Galway city's westside.
However, upon arrival, they found the room to be uninhabitable and refused to spend the night there.
The family wish to remain anonymous but were very upset and traumatised at what they witnessed.
"My wife and I and our very young child were allocated a room riddled with crawling insects, filthy and smelly, with broken furniture and stained walls.
"The room is not liveable and past the point of cleaning.
"I tried to bring this to the attention of the agency, and they just told me that I can attend a meeting in the coming days.
"They also told me on the phone that if I wasn't happy with the room, they would have to inform Galway City Council."
The family were also informed that the kitchen was closed for five days and were advised to use a microwave in their room for cooking.
Councillor Ogbu accompanied the family to a meeting with the agency and questioned the inspection process of the properties before they were assigned to families.
"We would expect inspections to ensure the rooms are clean and habitable," she said.
"This situation is unacceptable, and measures must be put in place to inspect the standards, quality, and safety of the services provided by private emergency accommodation providers."
She added: "Taxpayers' money is being used to pay these providers, and there must be accountability and a standard of service in return.
"We understand we are in a housing crisis, but that is not an excuse for substandard services.
"If these private providers were catering to tourists, they would provide a high standard of service. Why should it be any different for our homeless citizens?"
Ms Ogbu said that everyone has the right to basic human rights, respect, and dignity and highlighted the negative impact such conditions have on the mental health and self-worth of homeless individuals.
The family affected in this current crisis have now been reassigned to alternative accommodation.
"I call for an immediate audit of the private emergency accommodation providers and regular inspections of the properties to ensure they meet acceptable living standards.
"We must ensure that our most vulnerable citizens are treated with the respect and dignity they deserve," she concluded.
Sinn Féin TD for Galway West Mairéad Farrell said the city's emergency accommodation was "bursting at the seams" with unprecedented homeless figures.
"In the west in June 2024, 112 families were in emergency accommodation, including 239 children. This is up from June 2023, when there were 97 families in emergency accommodation and June 2022 when it was 88 families.
There are even more "hidden homeless" who are couch surfing, living with extended family in overcrowded accommodation, or are sleeping in their cars, she said.
"My office is constantly being contacted by people who are already homeless or are deciding between homelessness and overholding their rental property where a landlord has given them notice to leave."
The Minister for Housing said that while there is currently a shortage of available staffed emergency accommodation to accommodate homeless people, including families, Galway City Council are actively working to address what he called "this challenging situation".
Darragh O'Brien said efforts were ongoing to identify and secure additional emergency accommodation.
"The council is working with my department on a number of new initiatives in 2024, including a pilot scheme providing housing-led supported accommodation to families with complex needs in Galway City and County.
"There is a focus on supporting those already in emergency accommodation to exit homelessness into their own homes through the allocation of social housing or securing rental accommodation through HAP and other social housing supports.
"This in turn will help free up emergency accommodation spaces to assist those households who are in need of emergency accommodation."
Ms Farrell commended Galway City and County Council for the work they are doing to support people who do not have stable housing options.
However, she said the minister must recognise that councils cannot do anything with houses that are not there.
"I am aware that people in Galway are struggling to find any kind of private rented accommodation, with or without the support of HAP," she said.
"Support workers in the city council are advising people to look farther and farther out into the county, and even into other counties."
The situation in Galway reflects a national housing crisis and there are calls on the Government to address the underlying issues in the housing market so that people can access affordable accommodation.
