Information for Homeless International Protection Applicants The International Protection Accommodation Service The International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) is responsible for accommodating you and all other International Protection Applicants. If you were refused accommodation when you applied for asylum, IPAS will have added you to their waiting list. IPAS will accommodate you on either of the following 2 grounds: You have been identified as rough-sleeping, through outreach they organise. You have been waiting the longest. IPAS will contact you by email with an offer of accommodation. We do not know how long this will take. Please check your email daily - make sure to check your junk/ spam folder. If you believe IPAS do not have your correct email address we recommend you write to them confirming your correct email address - an automatic reply from IPAS is not confirmation. You must wait for further confirmation. You can contact IPAS at [email protected] with your full name and Person ID number. How can the Irish Refugee Council help?The Law: The Irish Refugee Council is doing all it can to pressure the State to provide accommodation to people seeking protection, which is their legal obligation. In 2023, our Independent Law Centre represented homeless International Protection applicants in the High Court. The Judge found that the State's failure to provide shelter, food, and hygiene facilities is unlawful and violates applicants' rights under EU law. For more information, please read here and here. A further judgement, following proceedings brought by the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, found, in August 2024, that the state was in breach of its obligations. Information & Support: If you are homeless, our caseworkers can meet with you to discuss your situation, provide you with useful information and signpost you to other services. We can discuss any legal pathways to challenging your homelessness and write to IPAS on your behalf. If you would like to meet a caseworker, please find details of our upcoming sessions below. No appointment is necessary but please complete this form in advance. Weekly Homeless Information Sessions every Thursday in Killarney Court, D01 X9X8. Time: 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM Medical Assistance If you are sick or unwell, you can visit a doctor through the services of SafetyNet. They conduct clinics at the following locations: SafetyNet Inclusion Health Hub (IHH), 60 Amiens St, Dublin 1, D01 EO86 Capuchin GP, The Capuchin Day Centre, 29 Bow Street, Dublin 7, D07 WY43 MQI GP, 13-14 Merchant’s Quay, Dublin 8, DO8 KT61 MHU @ The Light house, 28 Pearse St, Dublin 2, D02 NA48 You can find out more here. If the Doctor gives you a letter/document that shows you are sick, send it to IPAS by email. In the case of a medical emergency, dial 999 or 112 for an ambulance. If you are outside of Dublin, we recommend you contact your local HSE social inclusion office. Details here. Social Welfare As an international protection applicant experiencing homelessness you can can access certain social welfare services. You must first however obtain a Personal Public Service (PPS) number which is a unique reference number that helps you access social welfare benefits, public services and information in Ireland. Below are a number of steps you will need to follow: You can collect your PPS number 4 working days after you applied for asylum at the IPO. You can collect your PPS number and apply for the payments at your nearest Community Welfare Service. For those residing in Dublin, we recommend you access community welfare services through Elizabeth O'Farrell House, North Cumberland St, Dublin 1. You can then apply for a weekly payment of 113.80 euro. To be eligible for this payment you must prove that you are on the IPAS waiting list for accommodation, and can do so using a letter provided to you by IPAS, upon arrival and through your email. If you cannot find this, you should email IPAS to request an up to date version: [email protected] You can also apply for an Additional Needs Payment. This will likely be issued to you on your first payment by way of a clothing allowance. Homeless Day Services Please be aware that Homeless services are not responsible for providing accommodation to International Protection Applicants; this is the responsibility of IPAS. Homeless day services across Dublin city centre can however help you with breakfast, lunch, dinner, showers, change of clothing, tents and sleeping bags, for free. The services have different opening hours, starting from 8am and finishing at 10pm. Please click on the links for more information. Merchants Quay Ireland 13-14 Merchant's Quay, The Liberties, Dublin, D08 KT61 Food and showers Monday – Friday: 8am – 7pm Sunday 8am – 2pm Capuchin 29 Bow St, Dublin Food, showers, Doctors/Dentist, tents Monday - Saturday: 8.00 – 11.30am & 12.30 – 3.00 pm Mendicity Institution 9 Island St, Usher's Island, Dublin 8, D08 KW8H Food and showers Monday – Friday & Sunday: 8.30 am – 6.30 pm Tiglin at the Lighthouse 28 Pearse St, Dublin 2, D02 NA48 Food, clothing, sleeping bags, tents Tuesday – Friday 7:00pm - 10:00pm Saturday & Sunday 3.00 – 6.00pm Crosscare Migrant Project, 2 St Mary’s Place North Sleeping bags Mon - Thurs 9am - 1pm and 2pm - 5pm Booking a Tourist Hostel While you are waiting to be accommodated you may be able to source private accommodation, such as a hostel. Please note however that tourist hostels will most likely refuse you if you do not have a national ID (such as a passport, driving license, or a national ID card from your home country). If you do source private accommodation you can apply for further financial assistance through the Department of Social Protection's Supplementary Allowance scheme. You will need to apply for an Additional Needs Payment at your nearest Community Welfare Service. For those residing in Dublin, we recommend you access community welfare services through Elizabeth O'Farrell House, North Cumberland St, Dublin 1. It is important to note that Additional Needs Payments are issued at the discretion of department deciding officers. As a result, rates may vary, payments issued may not cover your total costs, and your application may be refused entirely. Moreover deciding officers may ask that you book your accommodation first so that they can then refund you. If you do not have the means to do so, we recommend you explain this to staff in the Department of Social Protection and/ or attend our Thursday clinic (or email us at: [email protected]) Prices for hostel style accommodations vary but you might find a bed costing between 25-30 euro per night. Prices for holidays and weekends are often considerably higher. Check Booking.com and Hostel World to see prices and availability. We recommend you keep receipts (evidence of payments). These will be helpful in your applications for Additional Needs Payments. Postal Address / Proof of Address An Post Address Point: An Post Address Point is a free service that provides a fixed address to those experiencing homelessness. It enables them to receive regular post. To get your address, please register here. It is very easy. See the picture below. You will need to write your name, select a county (e.g Dublin) and then select the post office where you want to collect your post from (e.g GPO). Then your address will appear on the webpage. You can take a picture of your new address so you do not forget it. You will need to check your chosen post office once per week, in case you received post. The Post Office will only keep it for 10 days. You will need to bring your PPS card with you. Proof of Address: If you are receiving a social welfare payment, you can contact your Community Welfare Service and request that they issue you with a social welfare statement to your An Post address. You will then receive a government issued letter with your name and address. This letter can be used as a proof of address. For those residing in Dublin, we recommend you email your community welfare service at: [email protected] Legal Aid You may be entitled to free legal representation throughout the international protection process under the legal aid board's free legal aid scheme. To apply, you need to complete an application form and submit it to the nearest relevant Legal Aid Board. Details for the Dublin Law Centre: 48/49 North Brunswick StreetSmithfieldDublinD07 PE0C Phone: (01) 6469600Email: [email protected] Designated Safe Country of Origin For applicants from a designated "Safe" country of origin, we recommend you apply for legal aid as soon as possible. The IPO will probably inform you of the date for your substantive interview on the day you apply for asylum. Legal representation is important in the context of your section 35 or 'Big' interview, as well as any appeals you may wish to submit to the International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT). For more information on designated safe countries see our information hub here. Reaccommodation If you were previously in the IPAS accommodation system but are now homeless, you may seek reaccommodation by emailing IPAS directly: [email protected]. Below is an outline of this process. You should email IPAS making sure to write 'reaccommodation' in the subject line. You should include your name and person ID in the email and explain that you are seeking reaccommodation. You will receive an automatic response immediately. This will include the ticket number for your request. Some time after this (possibly days) you will receive a further email stating that 'Your email has been noted and has been assigned to the relevant section within the International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) for attention and reply.' Some time after this (possibly days), and unless otherwise provided you will receive a third email from IPAS asking you to sign a Declaration of Means form. Provided you submit a signed declaration of means form you will then be offered an accommodation. You will then need to confirm whether or not you accept this offer. Accepting the offer does not mean you can go there immediately. You will need to wait for IPAS to finally email you with a transfer letter. For information on your rights to, and within, IPAS centres you can email our case work team at: [email protected] Manage Cookie Preferences