THE NUMBER OF people living in emergency accommodation increased last month to a record 14,760 people.

According to the latest figures from the Department of Housing, 10,199 adults and 4,561 children were in emergency accommodation in September. 

It represents an increase of 274 people, compared to August. It is the ninth consecutive month that the number of people in emergency housing has risen.

Charities and members of the opposition have said that there is a need for Government to take radical action and stressed the importance of implementing the Housing Commission report, published earlier this year.

Executive Director of the Simon Communities, a homelessness charity, Wayne Stanley said that these figures, likely to be the last report published before the a general election is called, is evidence that the next Government will need to do more.

He added that the Housing Commission has put the next Government in a “fortunate” position and stressed that there needs to be action taken and funding provided so that its plan can be fully implemented.

The Housing Commission report made recommendations to boost the supply of housing, assist with people who are currently homeless or in emergency accommodation and review private rental arrangements. 

At the time, the Government welcomed the report but charities – who praised the recommendations included in its conclusion – have since been quick to point out that very little from the report has yet to be implemented. 

DePaul, another homelessness charity, has said the next ruling party should use the Housing Commission report as a layout for a strategic national plan for housing and homelessness. 

It’s chief executive David Carroll added that Government need to reverse the over-reliance on temporary accommodation, complete a comprehensive review of mental health services and increase HSE funding for homelessness services.

Increase in exit figures

Today’s figures from the Department of Housing is the final report for the third quarter of this year. It says that 862 adults and 327 families exited emergency accommodation and were housed within the three-month period.

The exit figures represent a 23.5% increase in the number of households who were brought out of homelessness compared to the same period last year.

There was also a 37% increase in the number of households who recieved housing prevention assistance, from charities such as Threshold, the Simon Communities, Focus Ireland and other activists.

Families and others in emergency accommodation are usually rehomed once social housing units become available, however the Housing Commission report cited serious concerns over the level of social homes needed to deal with the crisis.

Housing minister Darragh O’Brien took note of what he called “significant” increases in the exit and prevention rates. He remained adamant that the pipeline for housing supply is “incredibly strong”.

Housing charity Focus Ireland’s CEO Pat Dennigan said that the next Government must review and adjust policies around the rehousing mechanisms, so that families and those who have been homeless for long periods of time are better prioritised.

It has long been the case that charities and members of the opposition believe the system to rehouse people in emergency accommodation does not do enough to mitigate long-term homelessness.

Among the many resolutions includes increasing social housing supply. Dennigan believes that the targeted approach, used during the Covid-19 pandemic, was significant to reduce long-term homelessness.

He added: “If we fail to apply the lessons from what has proven effective, the number of families and children enduring long-term homelessness will continue to increase each month, despite the valuable efforts of Focus Ireland, other NGOs, and the State to support more households out of homelessness.”

Housing figures

Minister O’Brien today cited figures from the recent social housing construction report that detailed that more than 27,000 social homes are currently onsite or at design and tender stage.

“As we wait for this supply to take hold, supporting individuals and families facing homelessness will remain a top priority for this Government,” the minister added.

But figures released by the CSO this week found that the number of total homes completed so far this year is significantly lower than last year. O’Brien said he was sure that completions would pick up later in the year, as has been the case previously.

Sinn Féin’s spokesperson for finance Pearse Doherty said that the report was further evidence that there was a need for the Government to take a “radically different approach” to housing.

His colleague, and party spokesperson for housing, Eoin Ó Broin suggested today for the Government to reinstate the temporary eviction ban – to reduce the risk of people entering homelessness.

“Ultimately the only way we will start to tackle the ever deepening homelessness crisis is with a change of Government and a change of housing plan,” he argued.

The Social Democrats echoed this sentiment, with party TD and housing spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan claiming: “The depressing familiarity of this record being broken is an indictment of this Government’s legacy.”

Labour Leader and Spokesperson on Housing Ivana Bacik said the figures represent a “damning indictment of Government failure”.

Every party gave reference to the astounding levels of wealth and record-high Government budget surpluses recorded this year. Bacik said it was imperative that the State put those funds to use.

She said: “The State has the resources, but not the political will, to solve this housing emergency. It is simply unacceptable, and it speaks to a government that has consistently failed to deliver on its promises.”