We’re all just one life event away from being homeless

THE lonely death of homeless man Jonathan Corrie across the road from Dáil Eireann last December resulted in a flurry of activity as various organs of the State were jolted into taking action on the issue.

But just seven months on, we learn of an

?¬18m shortfall in the city’s homelessness budget. Focus Ireland warned that this was putting families and single people at greater risk of sleeping rough.

With Revenue continuing to collect more in taxes than had been forecast, there is no reason why local authorities should be found wanting when it comes to providing homeless services.

Mike Allen, Director of Advocacy at Focus Ireland, offered this stark assessment of the situation.

“The additional spending to date is almost entirely due to the sharp rise in family homelessness and the need to put over 1,000 children and their families into B&Bs and hotel rooms,

? he explained.

“Every 50 families becoming homeless costs

?¬3m a year just to provide emergency accommodation – and more than 50 families are losing their homes each month.

?

He added:

“We have to get a grip on this situation. The family homeless crisis must now be seen as a national emergency and the Government needs to fund the costs arising from this separately from the annual homelessness budget to avoid a deepening crisis.

?

While all forms of homelessness have continued to grow in Dublin, the crisis among families is reaching new proportions, according to the charity.

A rising number of families are forced to sleep in their cars or other more risky situations.

Homelessness in Ireland is an ever-evolving crisis. It is no longer just about the drug addicts, alcoholics or those fleeing from dysfunctional family situations – equally worthy as they are of the protection of the State.

The ranks of the homeless community have been swelled by ordinary citizens who have fallen through the cracks due to the misfortune of losing their job, having their property repossessed by a financial institution or being unable to afford extortionate rent increases.

If we bothered engaging with homeless people on our streets instead of hurriedly walking past them out of embarrassment, we might be surprised to hear how similar their backgrounds are to ours and why we are all just one unforeseen life event away from ending up like them.