Calls to save Belfast's only women-only homeless hostel

You are viewing content from Q Belfast 96.7/102.5. Would you like to make this your preferred location?

By Q Radio News

Politicians and a trade union are calling on the communities minister to halt the closure of the only homeless hostel for women in Belfast. 

Regina Coeli House in west Belfast is to close its doors in coming weeks after helping women for more than 80 years.

South Belfast MP Claire Hanna said the women using the facility are vulnerable and require intensive help and support and required continuity of care.

She said: “Regina Coeli Women’s Hostel provides a vital service in supporting some of the most vulnerable women in our society. It is the only facility of its kind for the whole city and what we need to see is a appropriate support and facilities for those who find themselves dealing with homelessness, not the closing of the minimal support that currently exists.

"Social housing waiting lists are already out of control and one only has to take a walk through Belfast city centre in the evening to see the scale of the homelessness problem we are dealing with.

“The women using this facility are vulnerable and require intensive help and support. Many of them may suffer from mental health or addiction issues, while others will have experienced abusive relationships. We are also concerned for staff at the hostel who do challenging work to support the women living there and now face questions over their employment and future.

“Every option must be explored to save this facility. It’s owned by the Legion of Mary, but its funding comes through the Housing Executive and Sinn Féin Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey has the power to intervene and stop this closure. It’s bad enough that this is the only facility of its kind that exists to support vulnerable women and we certainly should not be removing it.”  

(Ms Hanna says homeless women need the specialist support offered by the hostel)

Meanwhile Unite the Union said Regina Coeli house, at Lakeglen avenue in West Belfast, has provided a refuge to homeless and vulnerable women since 1935.

Unite Regional Equalities & Women’s Officer Taryn Trainor said: “Regina Coeli House is the only facility offering women-only accommodation for the homeless and those suffering from mental health or addiction difficulties. 

"In some cases, the residents may have experienced violence or trauma from a violent partner and need an all-female facility to feel safe and less vulnerable and yet they have been forced into mixed accommodation.  

“It’s completely unacceptable that workers and residents at what is a publicly-funded facility – providing a service to some of our most vulnerable women – can be treated like this. Instead of this facility being wound down and closed, we should be seeing a huge investment into expand its provision. With the Covid pandemic, never has the need for this sort of a facility been more necessary.” 

Unite Regional Secretary Jackie Pollock was sharply critical of the situation facing workers and remaining residents.

She said: “I have written to Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey to request an urgent meeting. Minister Hargey has the power to intervene; guaranteeing the future of this facility and the services it offers to vulnerable women. 

“Unite will be engaging with our members and the residents on the next steps to secure the future of Regina Coeli. We are calling on the local community to back these workers and join our call for Ministerial intervention to safeguard this women’s hostel.”

 

 

More from Q Radio Local News


Join the Thank Q Club

Sign up for the Thank Q Club and receive exclusive offers, fun competitions and amazing prizes - it's quick and easy to do!

Sign Up Log In

Listen on the go

Download the Q Radio app to keep listening, wherever you are! It's available on Apple and Android devices.

Download from the App Store Download from Google Play