The State’s homeless population have hit a record high, reaching 14,159 individuals, 4,316 of whom are children, as confirmed by the latest statistics from the Department of Housing. One charity has termed the situation of these children, particularly as the school summer holidays commence, as “deeply distressing.” Another commented that the system for providing emergency housing is nearing its breaking point.
The aggregate figure, which was released on Friday, applies to the week from May 20th to 26th and indicates an increase of 13.8% in the number of people in emergency accommodation from the previous year. This figure does not include rough-sleepers, occupants of domestic violence shelters, or the over 2,000 homeless asylum seekers.
The Department’s monthly review for homelessness reveals a 10% rise from May of the previous year, with 6,436 single adults in emergency housing. The highest concentration of homeless individuals is in Dublin, where they number 10,291, including 1,464 families (comprising 3,233 children) and 4,534 single adults in emergency accommodation.
Pat Dennigan, CEO of Focus Ireland emphasised that, “Homelessness inflicts immense distress on all those affected, particularly children. It is indeed distressing that as many schools shut for summer holidays, 4,316 children are without a home.”
Wayne Stanley, Executive Director of Simon Communities Ireland prompts action rather than despair as homeless numbers climb. Dublin Simon’s CEO Catherine Kenny also called for action, declaring that the system for emergency housing is at a tipping point.
Once again, there’s a relentless surge in the number of individuals resorting to emergency shelters in our capital city. This, along with the 54 per cent rise in people sleeping rough in the capital in the past year, highlighted in last week’s spring count, indicates a crisis situation. The constant influx of people who are unable to exit this predicament shows that the situation has reached a breaking point.
The present circumstances are not viable and necessitates the immediate, collaborative effort of all relevant parties to relieve the strain on emergency shelters and to aid those in pressing need of permanent accommodation.
Eoin Ó Broin, the housing spokesperson for Sinn Féin, noted: “On a monthly basis, the numbers keep growing, however, the Government hasn’t made the necessary modifications to their deficient housing plan.”
He went on to state, “This Government lacks the requisite determination and strategies to address the spiralling homelessness crisis. How could they possibly solve it when they are the origin of this pressing issue? Only a government shift and a renewed housing plan that focuses on ending homelessness by quickening the provision of social and affordable housing can conclude the Fianna Fáil and Fine Gaels housing and homelessness dilemmas.”
Cian O’Callaghan, the Social Democrats’ housing spokesperson, stated that new Taoiseach Simon Harris is “maintaining the dreadful legacy of his predecessors.”
He added, “It’s evident that they’ve run out of solutions and the people deprived of a home are suffering the consequences. We need to construct thousands of social and affordable houses every year so that individuals and families have the opportunity to secure a permanent and stable home.”