THE LATEST HOMELESSNESS figures from the Department of the Environment (now subsumed into three separate departments under the new government) show that nearly 6,000 people are living homeless in Ireland.
The report indicates that a net 152 people became homeless in March alone, an increase of 3%, leaving an overall figure of 5,963 accessing local authority managed emergency accommodation.
Fully 75% of that figure, or 4,473 people, are living in Dublin.
The new numbers represent a 44% overall increase in homelessness since the same time last year, while there has been an incredible 103% increase in the number of homeless families.
3,969 adults and 1,994 children make up the overall figure. There are 955 families living homeless, 625 of which are single-parent families.
Of the adults, 2,352 are male and 1,617 female. 60% of those are aged between 25 and 44 years. 87 people aged 65 years or greater are accessing emergency accommodation at present. The figures do not take into account rough sleepers around the country.
The new government has pledged action on homelessness in its programme for government released yesterday.
While pledging to deliver an additional 25,000 new homes every year by 2020, an action plan on housing has also been promised to be published within 100 days, while a new model of affordable rent is to be developed for low income families, also within the first 100 days.
Further to this, the use of ‘unsuitable’ emergency accommodation is to be ended, in part, by the the delivery of 500 rapid-delivery housing units.
Reaction
Responding to the latest figures, Simon Communities spokesperson Niamh Randall said “the numbers are appalling”.
“We are calling on the new Government to make addressing housing and homelessness their number one priority and make good on pre and post-election promises,” she said.
There are now 5, 963 people trapped in emergency accommodation. There is nowhere for these people to move on to and meanwhile the trauma and stress has a long lasting impact on their lives.
Preventing homelessness by supporting people to stay in the homes they have and ensuring the provision of affordable housing with support are the proven ways to end this crisis. As a national organisation at the frontline of the housing and homeless crisis, it is deeply disturbing to see the number of people turning to us for help in every community month after month.
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