Hundreds of Refugees Face Homelessness as Ireland's IPAS Evicts Families
Hundreds of refugees in Ireland, including 475 families, face homelessness after IPAS ordered them to vacate accommodation by July, despite having legal status. Individuals like Cebsile Mhlanga and Vivian Nyathi struggle to find housing due to landlord requirements, income, and perceived discrimination. Refugee support groups warn of increased homelessness and disruption to lives.
Hundreds of refugees in Ireland, including 475 families and approximately 700 single adults, face homelessness after the International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) issued letters in March instructing them to vacate their accommodation by early July. This directive applies to individuals granted refugee status or the right to remain in the State, despite warnings from Department of Housing officials to the Department of Justice about a significant risk of homelessness.
Cebsile Mhlanga, from Swaziland, received refugee status in April last year but was told in March to leave her IPAS accommodation with her two children, aged nine and 15, by July. Mhlanga, a single parent with a low-paying job, struggles to find private housing due to landlord reference requirements and perceived discrimination based on her income and race, despite qualifying for the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP). Her children are integrated into their local community and school.
Vivian Nyathi, from South Africa, who arrived in 2024 with her three children aged seven, 13, and 15, also received a notice to leave her Cork IPAS centre after gaining status in January. She faces homelessness as she doesn't qualify for HAP, exceeding the threshold by just €36 weekly, and cannot afford market rents. Nyathi has been told by agents that some landlords do not want children, making it difficult to secure a two-bedroom property for her family.
Refugee support organizations like Nasc and the Irish Refugee Council (IRC) report increasing numbers of people struggling to find accommodation post-IPAS. They highlight that many clients rely on HAP, which landlords often refuse, and that transfers to remote emergency facilities disrupt employment, education, and family life. The Department of Justice states that IPAS, under significant pressure, cannot indefinitely house those with legal status while new applicants arrive, encouraging them to secure community accommodation after six to 12 months.