REFERRALS to a service that provides support to the homeless in Dublin increased by a staggering 77 per cent last year it was revealed last week.
Threshold’s Dublin Access Housing Unit received 800 referrals in 2013 due to a growing shortage of available units in the private rental market.
“Demand for accommodation in the private rental sector has been rising steadily in Dublin in recent years, and there is a serious shortage of rental accommodation in the city,
? said Fionnughla McLoughlin, Assistant Manager of the Access Housing Unit.
“This has driven average rent prices up. Add to that welfare cuts and rent supplement caps, and the result is that many low-income, vulnerable families are no longer able to make their rent or find suitable accommodation within their price-range.
?
Responding to the increased demand on the Threshold service, Dublin North West TD, Dessie Ellis (SF), called for
“swift action
? on homelessness.
The Sinn Féin housing spokesperson said there were a number of small issues contributing to rising homelessness.
“Every statistic released over the last 12 months has shown a dramatic rise in people experiencing homelessness,
? he said.
“The Government don’t want to row back on cuts but to stop this growth some compromise is needed.
“Restoration of social welfare payments to young people who are coming out of care or homelessness is essential. The cap on rent allowance must be raised and the minimum contribution reduced.
“In cases where landlords are ceasing with Rent Supplement or RAS contracts the Local Authority must step in.
“A code of conduct is needed for banks dealing with distressed buy to let mortgages.
“The Government has increased homelessness through their austerity agenda and they must face up to that.
“In the long term we need a major step up of public housing provision through new builds and renovation.”
According to Threshold, referrals to the organisation’s homeless support service rose steadily not only in 2013, but also in the previous three years. In 2010, the service dealt with 260 referrals, in 2011 this figure increased to 394 and in 2012 it was 453.
“This is symptomatic of a wider problem,
? said Fionnughla McLoughlin.
“Unfortunately, more and more people are currently finding themselves at risk of homelessness.
?
Last year Threshold’s Access Housing Unit resolved 81 cases of homelessness. A majority of these involved children, with 51 children in total housed by the unit last year.
The unit is designed to help homeless people move into private rented accommodation and also works to prevent tenancies failing.
Chairperson of Threshold, Senator Aideen Hayden (Lab), last week explained how homelessness impacts particularly harshly on families with children.
“Their education is disrupted, family support networks break down and there is a huge mental and emotional strain for those affected,
? she said.
“In light of this, it’s particularly encouraging to note the number of children helped through our Access Housing Unit this year.
?