A women’s refuge service is turning away 80 per cent of those seeking help because of chronic shortfall in capacity.
The Sonas Housing Association in Dublin, which shelters women and children suffering from domestic abuse, has said its services are massively oversubscribed.
The organisation’s 2011 annual report is being launched today by Minister of State for Housing and Planning Jan O’Sullivan.
Sonas is now appealing to the Government to increase the level of facilities around the country and to ringfence future funding for domestic violence support.
Since opening its Viva House facility in June 2010, which contains eight family apartments, it has had to turn away four out of five people seeking help.
“It’s a devastating thing to have to say to someone,” said spokeswoman Paula McGovern.
“[The problem] is pretty chronic now. The demand has doubled since 2010 and then there are cuts and embargoes on new services and all the time these women are stuck in a limbo.”
