Rise in people using emergency accommodation for fourth month in a row

Dublin Simon Community has released a statement following the confirmation that there has been a rise in the number of people in emergency accommodation in Dublin.

The latest Homeless Report, released today by the Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage, revealed 6,335 people, including 4,432 total adults, 799 families, 3,085 single adults and 1,903 children were in emergency accommodation in Dublin in October 2021.

This marks the fifth month that numbers in Dublin emergency accommodation have continued to climb, which CEO Sam McGuinness says is a “worrying” trend.

“If numbers in emergency accommodation continue on the worrying trajectory of the last few months, at least 6,335 men, women and children will be spending Christmas in emergency accommodation,” he says.

“Our staff, nurses, clients and residents are now preparing for Christmas within the fourth Covid wave.

“As it is, Christmas is an incredibly challenging time for people experiencing homelessness.

“It can trigger childhood trauma, make them think about family and friends they no longer see and serve as a stark reminder of the loneliness and uncertainty of their current circumstances.

“It’s particularly tough for the single women and men in our services, many of whom have nowhere else to go on the day.

“Every Christmas at Dublin Simon, our team works to make a special Christmas Day for all our clients and residents by organizing presents, Christmas dinner and activities like games and movies to recreate what most of us take for granted about Christmas at home.

“However, the generosity of people this Christmas will more importantly mean that we can provide more homes that are urgently needed.”

Some of Dublin Simon’s services are also being affected by financial uncertainty as fundraising events face being curtailed and cancelled for the second year running.

Dublin Simon is famous for on-street Christmas events like the Busk, Sing for Simon and Carolathon and any curtailment or cancellation creates a huge gap in funding for 2022, he says.

“We are making a special plea to donors on behalf of our clients, residents, staff and nurses to support Dublin Simon in this challenge to keep our doors open this Christmas and into the new year by donating whatever they can at www.dubsimon.ie.”