Posted on 12/20/2020 9:47:05 PM PST by nickcarraway
Rosemary has 10% vision and relies on her guide dog Quilla to help her navigate the streets of Dublin
A blind homeless woman who lives in a tent said she fears she will die on the streets this winter.
Rosemary Fearsaor-Hughes, who is disabled and has fibromyalgia, has been without permanent shelter for a decade.
The 37-year-old has 10% vision and relies on her guide dog Quilla to help her navigate the streets of Dublin.
She said she has been unable to get emergency accommodation because of accessibility issues.
Rosemary told the Irish Sunday Mirror: “I’m not looking forward to the cold snap that I know is coming.
“I could be found dead, no problem, especially if we get a sharp one as I suspect we’re going to.”
Rosemary said she was “exhausted” struggling with the most basic of human needs.
She said: “Toilets are a nightmare, showers are a nightmare, just accessing basic hygiene is a nightmare.
“Accessible accommodation for someone with a disability is something they do not have. It’s just another layer of complication.”
Rosemary said the accommodation where she was previously staying was “not fit for purpose” particularly in the pandemic.
She revealed: “Toilets were always broken, showers were broken. There was four people per room. There’s no privacy or dignity.
“Your basic human rights are gone right out the window. Covid was a nightmare in there.
“I try to get through things day to day. It’s literally just dealing with problems as they come up... where the next meal is coming from.”
Rosemary, who has no addiction issues, was previously in a semi-accessible homeless facility in a shared room with two other women. She said she was threatened, could hear constant noise, had trouble sleeping and drug dealing and use was rampant.
She added: “I felt I was at higher risk [there] than I was in [previous accommodation]. I would become room bound essentially due to the accessibility issues.
“Even on the street, I would have more privacy, dignity, and independence.”
A spokeswoman for Dublin Regional Homeless Executive said they were “acutely aware” of Rosemary’s accommodation needs.
She added: “Rosemary (and her assistance dog Quilla) use emergency accommodation intermittently and then she chooses to leave her accommodation...
“We have no knowledge as to where Ms Fearsaor Hughes is currently residing.
“She calls our Central Placement Service occasionally and is always treated professionally and with kindness and staff [who know her] endeavour to assist her.”
My heart goes out to this sad young soul.
Maybe I don’t know the whole story. Maybe she has been turning shelters down, but read what she wrote or dictated. She sounds articulate. Prayers for you, my Girl. I hope your fortune improves.
Nick, I always expect you to have a food angle in your stories, and you didn’t disappoint!
Her clothing looks very new and very clean....so, that is good.
Social services often make you choose between a place and your pet.
You are welcome.
yup
there are laws though that make exceptions for genuine service animals
You would think some kind soul in Dublin would take Rosemary Fearsaor-Hughes in.
Sorry Rosemary,
Dublin isn’t for Irish anymore. It is a “diverse” city. With all the imported Africans and Muslims you’re just going to have to sit back and enjoy your white privilege. There are more equal animals then you who deserve to live on the Irish safety net, and they sure ain’t Irish.
Doesn’t she have any family?
There are a lot of details missing from this story.
You can’t even say “Ireland for the Irish” in Ireland anymore.
She needs to claim to be a refugee / asylum seeker.
She manages this while living rent free, in a tent, and is allowed to do so in an urban area where land is sold by the square meter.
The high level of Western Civilization is astounding.
I learned something new from Wikipedia: Fibromyalgia is a medical condition characterized by chronic widespread pain and a heightened pain response to pressure. Other symptoms include tiredness to a degree that normal activities are affected, sleep problems and troubles with memory. Under the National Health Care system in the U.K., she should be coming close to her first appointment to diagnose her condition.
It's a poor journalistic photographer that doesn't get the guide dog of "a blind homeless woman who lives in a tent" in the picture.
She looks remarkably well-fed and clothed, for someone who has been living rough for ten years. If she's worried about how she'll manage the upcoming winter, she should think back to how she managed the previous ten winters. It seems to have worked so far.
Only having 10% vision is the least of her problems.
leave her in Dublin! Things have sure changed there.
As stated in the article's title and body, this is in Ireland (Dublin, to be specific).
Regards,
Waiting lists to see a UK doctor are up to 10 years, apparently.
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