SOME 30 homeless people in Dublin refused to sleep in emergency shelters last night as temperatures dropped as low as -5c.
Volunteers have been working around the clock to make sure there is enough shelter for the homeless during this week's freezing weather.
Over 100 rough sleepers made a sports hall in the south inner city their home last night as a Status Red weather alert remained in place for the Irish capital, Dublin 98FM reports.
The Peter McVerry Trust provided 106 emergency beds after its Housing First Street Intake Team managed to convince dozens to spend the night off the streets.
If you need help or wish to report the location of anyone in need of assistance during Storm Emma, here are the numbers you need to know.
📞Dublin freephone: 1800 707 707
📞Dublin Housing First Street intake team: 086 813 9015.
📞Kildare freephone: 1800 804 307— Peter McVerry Trust (@PMVTrust) March 1, 2018
Nevertheless, 16 people in the city centre and 14 in the wider Dublin region declined to make use of the emergency accomodation.
Pat Doyle, CEO of the Peter McVerry Trust, explained why so many rough sleepers have to be persuaded to come indoors.
"Some of these people have been sleeping rough for a very long time, so it's partly habit," he told Dublin 98FM reporter Brendan O'Loughlin.
He explained that they also might not want to join others inside because of "mental health, addiction, trust" and other issues.
“People are free to go if they want to, but we are encouraging them to stay because the weather is so bad," he added.
Teams say they will re-engage with those still out on the streets today, in the hope of encouraging them to take emergency shelter until the big freeze subsides.
