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Belfast Telegraph
3 days ago
- Health
- Belfast Telegraph
Emergency accommodation figures hit ‘shocking' all-time high
The data shows that 10,805 adults and 4,775 children were accessing emergency accommodation during the last full week of April. In general, the number of people accessing emergency accommodation has been steadily increasing from approximately 8,000 in mid-2021. The statistics do not include people sleeping rough, couch-surfing or homeless in hospitals or prisons, or those who are in shelter for asylum seekers or domestic violence centres. Mike Allen, director of advocacy at Focus Ireland, said the figures show the 'Government's current approach to homelessness is failing'. He said: 'With the introduction of the new Housing Plan, the incoming minister has a vital opportunity to reset the policy. We have outlined our evidence-based recommendations in a detailed submission to support this change. 'It is totally unacceptable that there's a record number of 4,775 children homeless as we approach summer. 'This should be a carefree time for children as they look forward to school holidays and the longer evenings. 'Instead of this, the harsh reality for many children who are homeless is that they are studying for exams while living in family hubs or hotels without anywhere suitable to even do their homework.' The Simon Communities of Ireland urged the Government to 'act decisively' on homelessness. Ber Grogan, executive director of the organisation, said: 'This is the highest level of homelessness Ireland has ever seen, and it's unacceptable. 'Behind every number is a person – a family, a child, a life in crisis. We are pleading with Government leaders and local authorities to act decisively before this emergency becomes completely irreversible.' The organisation said there should be 'real investment' in prevention. 'On top of the rising numbers, we're now facing unacceptable constraints on our ability to respond. 'In certain areas, there is no funding for second-hand housing acquisitions under tenant in situ (TIS) or the Homeless Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS). 'We are deeply concerned that these decisions will result in reduced supply and increased vulnerability for those already most at risk.' The Dublin rough sleeper count for spring, carried out over the week of March 31 to April 6, was published earlier this month and showed a decrease in rough sleeping since winter and spring 2024. The number of individuals engaged with by outreach teams during the week was 121, a decrease of 13 (9.7%) on winter 2024 when 134 were found to be rough sleeping during November 4-10 week. It represents a decrease of seven (5.5%) on the spring 2024 count carried out in the week of April 8-14. Sinn Fein housing spokesman Eoin O Broin TD said the Government must 'urgently fund vital homeless services and reverse recent funding cuts'. 'The latest increase is shocking but not surprising. It is a stain on this Government and our society. 'We cannot allow ourselves to accept this as normal. We must continue to be outraged by the fact that so many children are forced into emergency accommodation due to Government decisions. 'It is clear that we need urgent emergency action to tackle this crisis. Government must immediately reverse the funding cuts to vital homeless supports such as Housing First and the tenant-in-situ scheme. 'It is time to get feet on the street and put as much pressure on Government to take emergency action now to tackle the housing and homeless crises.'
Irish Independent
4 days ago
- Health
- Irish Independent
Number of homeless reached a new record of 15,580 last month
The data shows that 10,805 adults and 4,775 children were accessing emergency accommodation during the last full week of April. In general, the number of people accessing emergency accommodation has been steadily increasing from approximately 8,000 in mid-2021. The statistics do not include people sleeping rough, couch-surfing or homeless in hospitals or prisons, or those who are in shelter for asylum seekers or domestic violence centres. Mike Allen, director of advocacy at Focus Ireland, said the figures show the 'Government's current approach to homelessness is failing'. He said: 'With the introduction of the new Housing Plan, the incoming minister has a vital opportunity to reset the policy. We have outlined our evidence-based recommendations in a detailed submission to support this change. 'It is totally unacceptable that there's a record number of 4,775 children homeless as we approach summer. 'This should be a carefree time for children as they look forward to school holidays and the longer evenings. 'Instead of this, the harsh reality for many children who are homeless is that they are studying for exams while living in family hubs or hotels without anywhere suitable to even do their homework.' The Simon Communities of Ireland urged the Government to 'act decisively' on homelessness. Ber Grogan, executive director of the organisation, said: 'This is the highest level of homelessness Ireland has ever seen, and it's unacceptable. 'Behind every number is a person – a family, a child, a life in crisis. We are pleading with Government leaders and local authorities to act decisively before this emergency becomes completely irreversible.' The organisation said there should be 'real investment' in prevention. 'On top of the rising numbers, we're now facing unacceptable constraints on our ability to respond. 'In certain areas, there is no funding for second-hand housing acquisitions under tenant in situ (TIS) or the Homeless Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS). 'We are deeply concerned that these decisions will result in reduced supply and increased vulnerability for those already most at risk.' The Dublin rough sleeper count for spring, carried out over the week of March 31 to April 6, was published earlier this month and showed a decrease in rough sleeping since winter and spring 2024. The number of individuals engaged with by outreach teams during the week was 121, a decrease of 13 (9.7pc) on winter 2024 when 134 were found to be rough sleeping during November 4-10 week. It represents a decrease of seven (5.5pc) on the spring 2024 count carried out in the week of April 8-14. Sinn Fein housing spokesman Eoin O Broin TD said the Government must 'urgently fund vital homeless services and reverse recent funding cuts'. 'The latest increase is shocking but not surprising. It is a stain on this Government and our society. 'We cannot allow ourselves to accept this as normal. We must continue to be outraged by the fact that so many children are forced into emergency accommodation due to Government decisions. 'It is clear that we need urgent emergency action to tackle this crisis. Government must immediately reverse the funding cuts to vital homeless supports such as Housing First and the tenant-in-situ scheme. 'It is time to get feet on the street and put as much pressure on Government to take emergency action now to tackle the housing and homeless crises.'
Belfast Telegraph
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Belfast Telegraph
Number of people in emergency accommodation hits record high of 15,418
Opposition parties called for a 'radical' reset on housing to stem the constant increase in homelessness. The figures show there were 40 more people, 22 of whom were children, using emergency accommodation in March compared with February, when 15,378 were recorded as homeless. The figures for January saw 15,286 people homeless, 4,603 of whom were children. The true number of people who are homeless is thought to be much higher, as the monthly figures do not include people sleeping on the streets, couch-surfing or those who access accommodation in domestic violence refuges or Direct Provision. The monthly Department of Housing tally has been growing steadily for years as governments have struggled to address the housing crisis which emerged after the recession. House prices and rents have skyrocketed, particularly after the Covid-19 pandemic, as supply remains constrained and demand has increased. The government has increased its new-build housing targets for the coming years in response, but missed last year's overall target and its social homes target for several years running. The Central Bank of Ireland has also warned that Ireland is on track to miss its housing targets for the next three years. Homelessness charity the Simon Communities of Ireland said that since March last year, an extra 1,552 people are in emergency accommodation. Ber Grogan, executive director of the Simon Communities of Ireland, said: 'This time four years ago, it was reported that 8,060 men, women and children were experiencing homelessness. 'That number has nearly doubled since then. It's hard to fathom how we can reverse these figures in the next five years without urgent action. 'If we're serious about ending homelessness by 2030, we need to start treating it like the crisis it is. 'Housing and homelessness must become a top priority for Government. 'Our latest Locked Out Of The Market report highlights the severe shortage of options in the private rental sector. 'We need to act now to protect people from falling into homelessness. Prevention is not only the most economically sensible approach, it's also the morally right thing to do.' Labour TD Conor Sheehan said each week 'brings a new low' in this Government's handling of the housing crisis. 'There is no way to sugarcoat this. It's a national scandal, and it is a direct result of Government failure to treat housing as the emergency it clearly is,' he said. 'Despite the rhetoric, there is no urgency, no strategic leadership, and no willingness to admit the scale of the crisis.' Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne said the latest figures were 'a shameful milestone for a government that never prioritised homelessness'. Mr Hearne, the party's housing spokesperson, said the proposed removal of rent caps and cuts to the tenant-in-situ scheme will add to already rising levels of homelessness. 'Overall, there are 256 more children in emergency accommodation than there were six months ago. These trends will continue unless there is a radical shift in government policy,' he said. 'Rising levels of homelessness will continue to outpace any social and affordable housing delivery from the State unless there is a radical shift in government policy, which must have a far greater focus on the tenant-in-situ scheme.'
Irish Daily Mirror
25-04-2025
- General
- Irish Daily Mirror
Number of people homeless in March reaches another record high
The number of people classified as homeless in Ireland reached yet another record high last month. The March homelessness report, published by the Department of Housing, stated there were 15,418 homeless. This included 4,675 children, up 22 from last month's figures. Figures for February revealed that 15,378 people, including 4,653 children, were in emergency housing. The figures do not include people sleeping rough or on the streets, couch-surfing or those in domestic violence refuges. Unaccommodated asylum seekers are also not included in these figures. The highest number of homeless adults was in Dublin, where 7,537 (70 per cent) people were in emergency accommodation in March. There were 1,536 homeless families in Dublin. In total, there were 2,212 homeless families in emergency accommodation last month. Some 52 per cent of homeless adults were Irish, while 21.1% were EEA/UK. Another 26.9% were non-EEA. The Department of Housing also published the Homeless Quarterly Progress Report for the first quarter of 2025. It noted that the number of people accessing emergency accommodation at the end of the first quarter of 2025 was up 11.2% compared to the same period last year. There were 2,212 families accessing emergency accommodation at the end of Quarter 1 2025, an increase of 120 families (5.7%) compared to the end of 2024 and an increase of 231 families (11.7%) on the total recorded at the end of quarter one 2024. During the first three months of 2025, some 642 households, which included 850 adults and 369 families, were prevented from entering emergency accommodation by way of a tenancy being created. This represents a decrease of 48.5% on the number of adults prevented from entering emergency accommodation in Quarter 4 2024, and a decrease of 36.3% on Q1 2024. Some 628 households, including 796 adults and 277 families, exited emergency accommodation by creating a tenancy. This is a decrease of 14.2% on the number of households exiting in Quarter 4 2024, and a decrease of 3.8% on Q1 2024. The most common reason for presenting for emergency accommodation was a relationship breakdown (345 households), followed by 344 households who received a notice of termination for a private rental property. Some 97 households were in emergency accommodation because they had left Direct Provision in the last six months, while 71 households were newly arrived to Ireland. Some 126 households were homeless because of 'leaving an institution', such as care, a hospital, prison or refuge. Some 1,148 single-person households and 449 family households have been in emergency accommodation for longer than two years. Ber Grogan, Executive Director of the Simon Communities of Ireland, said it was hard to believe that homelessness in Ireland can be eradicated by 2030. She said: 'This time four years ago, it was reported that 8,060 men, women and children were experiencing homelessness. That number has nearly doubled since then. It's hard to fathom how we can reverse these figures in the next five years without urgent action. "If we're serious about ending homelessness by 2030, we need to start treating it like the crisis it is. Housing and homelessness must become a top priority for Government."
Irish Independent
25-04-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
HAP housing in Galway at crisis point – ‘Housing is not a luxury, it is a fundamental human right'
Today at 06:52 Over the past four Locked Out of the Market reports from the Simon Communities of Ireland not one property that accepts the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) has been available in Galway City. The Locked Out of the Market reports are issued quarterly, with each report containing a snapshot study conducted over three consecutive days within a specific time frame.
