LAST UPDATE | 28 Jun

HOMELESSNESS CHARITIES AND opposition politicians have hit out at the Government as latest figures reveal that the number of people living in emergency accommodation increased last month to a record 14,159.

According to the latest figures from the Department of Housing, 9,843 adults and 4,316 children were in emergency accommodation in May.

The figure is an increase from the 14,009 people living in emergency accommodation in April, which was also a record.

“Month after month, these figures rise but the government refuses to make any changes to its failing housing plan,” said Sinn Féin housing spokesperson Eoin O Broin.

So, another month of government inaction sees homelessness numbers rise again.

 ”This government has neither the will nor the policies to tackle the escalating homeless crisis. How could they, they are the cause of that crisis.”

Focus Ireland CEO Pat Dennigan said:

“Homelessness creates huge pain for everyone involved, with children suffering the most.

“It is truly heartbreaking that when many schools are closing for the summer holidays
4,316 children don’t have a home. This is an appalling situation that, without proper support, can have lifelong consequences.

As a society, we need to take meaningful actions that will bring about change.

Wayne Stanley, Executive Director of the Simon Communities of Ireland, described the next six months is “an important window of opportunity in the fight against homelessness”. 

“14,000 people, over 4,300 of them children, in homelessness, is correctly called a crisis. But this fact should not feed a sense of fatalism. Making progress on homelessness, even getting to the point where homelessness is short-term and quickly solvable, is possible,” he said.

He said the upcoming Budget and the next programme for Government will set the framework for success or failure.

“A framework for success requires a commitment to preventing homelessness, supporting those in homelessness to deal with the trauma of that experience, and providing the affordable homes that are the route out of homelessness

“Budget 2025 needs to see greater investment in social housing, investment in health support for those in homelessness, and support to local authorities to invest in prevention services.”

With reporting from Cormac Fitzgerald