Homeless figures back to near record levels

The latest homelessness figures for Ireland show that 12,827 people are homeless in Ireland, just 20 shy of the all-time record set in August.

The figures, released by the Department of Housing, show a 1% rise since the last round of figures.

Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien, claimed “those without a home remain the top priority for this Government.”

“My Department is making funding of €242 million available for the delivery of homeless services in 2024 – a 12.6% increase on the Budget 2023 allocation and we have been clear that there will be no obstacle in funding much-needed services. Already we have seen that the Tenant in Situ scheme is effectively preventing people who receive a notice to quit from entering into emergency accommodation and we are extending this scheme into next year also.”

“funding for next year will ensure local authorities can continue to provide emergency accommodation and others services to households experiencing homelessness, and – crucially – that even more households at risk of homelessness will be prevented from entering into emergency accommodation and those in emergency accommodation will be supported to exit into secure tenancies as quickly as possible.”

In recent weeks, homelessness activist Father Peter McVerry warned that as many as 16,000 people could be homeless by the next general election.

O’Brien stated  that the reasons for homelessness are “complex” and said that Government, local authorities and those in NGO sectors are “working together and making every effort to reduce homelessness.”

“We can see some of this hard work paying off in terms of the significant increases in preventing people from entering emergency accommodation and helping people to exit,” he said.

He conceded that the situation is “very challenging” but Government have made it a “priority.”.

Dublin Simon Community said they are “fearful of what lies ahead this winter.”

“The number of people living in emergency accommodation in September were released by the Department of Housing this afternoon and showed that in the Dublin region alone there were 9,391 adults and children – 1.3% more than the previous month, and an increase of 21% over the same period in 2022.?”

Dublin Simon CEO, Catherine Kenny, said “these grim statistics come as we are facing the most difficult months of the year where we traditionally see an increase in people entering homelessness. I am fearful of what is yet to come this winter as there is no indication that the numbers of people entering homelessness is going to decline any time soon.”

“In June 2016 just over 6,350 people were homeless nationally, we are now in a situation where it is 100% higher than just seven years ago. The figures in Dublin alone are now higher than national figures in 2016, these are the kind of grim records that we need to put behind us.”

“With the recent announcement of a budget that did little for people facing the reality of homelessness, we are in a situation where only the sustained delivery of housing and tailored supports can truly end the threat and the experience of homelessness for so many people in Ireland.”

Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan highlighted the dubious stat that 3,094 of those homeless in Ireland are children, an all-time record.

Describing the statistics as “shameful,” O’Callaghan said “the continued rise in the number children growing up without a home represents a monumental failure for this Government who have watched child homelessness increase by 47% since taking office.”

“There is no acceptable level of child homelessness. We are not a country starved of resources. Ensuring that every child grows up with a home should be the bare minimum for any government,” he said.