More than 200 eastern Europeans who moved to Ireland to work only to fall into a nightmare of poverty, addiction and homelessness were supported and helped to return to their home countries last year by a Polish charity which now plans to expand from Dublin into Cork and Limerick.
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‘Overwhelmed’ charity getting requests from immigrants to help them return home after Irish dream turns into nightmare
More than 200 eastern Europeans who moved to Ireland to work only to fall into a nightmare of poverty, addiction and homelessness were supported and helped to return to their home countries last year by a Polish charity which now plans to expand from Dublin into Cork and Limerick.
Barka admitted it has been overwhelmed by demand for its support services across Ireland since the end of the Covid-19 pandemic and the inflation crisis.
Hundreds of migrant workers are threatened with homelessness after being hit by surging inflation and soaring rents across Ireland.
The stress of coping with this has led many into addiction problems.
Barka – which was established in Poland after the fall of communism to help the needy – works with people suffering from health and addiction problems.
Critically, it works to help people reconnect with their support network of family and friends in their home countries.
Barka began its Irish operations in Dublin more than 12 years ago.
Andrew Keogh, Barka’s senior UK project manager, said demand for their services in Ireland has soared over the past few years.
“We have been working with the Dublin City Council for nearly 12 years.
"As in London, Barka develops close relations with foreign embassies in Dublin as well as other charities such as the Simon Community, the Franciscans, the Capuchins, the Merchants Quay Project and others.
“We have an office space on Dominic Street in Dublin and Barka workers visit hospitals, clinics, prisons such as Wheatfield, Mountjoy, Portlaoise as well as homelessness day-care centres.”
