Rising homeless figures highlight ‘shocking’ failure

Rising numbers of homeless people, including young children, have demonstrated a "shocking" systemic failure in addressing the issue, the Simon Communities of Ireland has said.

National figures released for January show 5,715 people trapped in emergency accommodation, a year-on-year increase of 49 per cent.

For children, the figure stands at 1,830, an increase of 111 per cent, while 884 families in such temporary accommodation represent a rise of 120 per cent.

"People are entitled to so much better," said spokeswoman Niamh Randall, repeating the Simon Communities' call for a minister for housing to deal with the issue.

“We know the damage and trauma that people experience when they are trapped in emergency accommodation with no place to go.”

A statistical breakdown of one night in Dublin city last November illustrates the severity of the problem – 152 people were found to be lacking a safe place to stay, including 91 sleeping rough and another 61 sheltering at the Nite Cafe.

“Preventing homelessness by supporting people to stay in the homes they have and ensuring the provision of affordable housing with support are the ways to end this crisis,” said Ms Randall.