A Belfast charity has called for safety barriers to be installed at a nearby bridge after multiple distressing incidents.
The Welcome Organisation says it is "only a matter of time" before the city sees a tragedy at Divis bridge. At around 8am on a morning last week, staff dealt with a challenging incident which has prompted their calls for intervention.
Speaking to Belfast Live, Kieran Hughes, from the Welcome Organisation, says this incident is not the first that their support workers have assisted with. He said while news that work will go ahead at this bridge is positive, it should be a priority for the department.
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"We have been calling for these barriers for some time," he added.
"Now we do know that the Department is due to begin work there, and we very much welcome that, but we would urge that it is made a priority. We had heard that work was to begin in the summer, it is now September. We really hope that this would can be expedited.
"Our support workers, recently, had to help someone who was in distress, down from the bridge. It wasn't the first time this has happened in recent months. We would like to see safety barriers erected as soon as possible.
"This can be a potentially life saving measure. It is also worthy to stress that more investment in mental health services for people affected by homelessness is crucially important.
"We can't praise our staff highly enough. The work they do day in and day out is amazing, providing support to the most vulnerable in society. It is important that we are mindful of their mental wellbeing and we are extremely aware of the lifesaving interventions that our support workers are doing all the time."
A Department for Infrastructure spokesperson told Belfast Live: "The Department is working in partnership with the Public Health Agency and Urban Scale Interventions on a pilot project to provide measures to improve health and well-being along the Westlink bridges by providing an immediate change of space by ‘greening’ the bridges.
"The pilot project includes the provision of steel panelling on Divis Street and Clifton Street bridges and the panelling will incorporate plant boxes which will facilitate the greening of the structures.
"The Department intends to erect a test panel to allow the design of the pilot project to be finalised and we are committed to ensuring this important work is completed as soon as possible."
And as the colder months approach, Kieran said there are always ways in which the public can lend their support to the Welcome Organisation. The most urgent need for the team, he says, is for donations of sleeping bags.
"We are running very low at the moment, so if anybody does want to help us, please donate," he said.
"Also, new underwear is something we are extremely low on at the moment. We do receive donations of clothes and it tends to be hats and gloves and warm coats and hoodies which are all fantastic, but people don't tend to think about underwear.
"If someone who is homeless comes to our centre for a shower, we want to give them new underwear. That is really important for their dignity. These items can be brought to our drop in centre any day of the week."
Please follow here to visit the Welcome Organisation's website.
If you or someone you know is in distress or despair call the 24/7 freephone crisis helpline Lifeline on 0808 808 8000.
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