The Government is being urged to work with homeless organisations to help victims of human trafficking.

A new report from Depaul on Homelessness and Human Trafficking in Dublin shows victims who fall into homelessness are often deprived of the support they are entitled to under EU law. 

“International experience demonstrates that victims of trafficking will fall into homelessness and, therefore, it is imperative due to the vast array of temporary accommodation that exists that staff are equipped in order to be able to deal with the consequences of this crime and horrific experience,”  Depaul CEO David Carroll said. 

“If people continue in this cycle, they will not have the opportunity to overcome this trauma and will remain a victim in the system, rather than a survivor.”

The tentof a homeless person.

The research suggests utilising homeless charities to collect relevant information and connect with State services. 

“Much of the discussions to date focused on trafficking in the context of foreign nationals,” Mr Carrolls said. 

“It is therefore not clear whether homelessness organisations are coming into contact with Irish nationals or people with residence in Ireland who have been trafficked.” 

The report recommends developing more specialist accommodation services for victims of trafficking, more awareness training for staff at homeless organisations, an online toolkit and more research into the link between human trafficking and homelessness.

Main image: A person wrapped in a sleeping bag in Dublin city centre in January 2021. Image: Leah Farrell / RollingNews.ie