‘TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE’

Ireland’s homeless figures hit record high as thousands of kids prepare for school in emergency accommodation

• Rebecca Black, PA

• Published: 17:12, 25 Aug 2023
• Updated: 19:25, 25 Aug 2023

THE number of homeless people in Ireland has risen to a new record high for the third month in a row.

The latest figures from the Department of Housing reveal that 12,847 people were in emergency accommodation in July.

This is a rise of more than 200 from the 12,600 recorded in the previous month.

The latest figures include 9,018 adults and 3,829 children.

Dublin saw the highest numbers by far, with 6,576 adults and 2,908 children in emergency accommodation.

The charity Focus Ireland said urgent government action is required to end the housing crisis.

Chiefs warned: “As a society we must move beyond saying it’s ‘disappointing’ and state that it’s totally ‘unacceptable’.

“Urgent Government action required to end this crisis now.”

Labour leader Ivana Bacik said it’s outrageous that 3,829 children face the prospect of doing their homework from hotel rooms as students across the country return to the classroom after their summer break.

She said: “This Government’s failure to tackle the scourge of homelessness and the housing crisis will go down in the history books.

“There is no acceptable level of homelessness, yet Government is ploughing ahead with a strategy of hope rather than action.

“It’s devastating to see an increase of 64 children living in emergency accommodation in July.

“As families prepare to return to schools, too many are now facing the unbelievable prospect of doing their homework on a hotel room floor, trying to wash clothes in a bathroom sink and having nowhere to prepare school lunches.

“Many face long commutes to attend their school from the emergency accommodation they are stay in, while others are now taking up places in new schools, facing the prospects of having to make new friends, get to know new teachers.

“It’s a horrendous situation that Fine Gael and Fianna Fail have got us to.”

‘SIMPLY SHAMEFUL’

And Wayne Stanley, Executive Director of the Simon Communities of Ireland, said: “3,829 children will be starting back to school in the coming weeks from a homeless service. That is simply shameful.

“The figures yet again show new record levels of homelessness in Ireland.

“This cannot be allowed to continue. The government has two clear opportunities over the coming weeks to take some of the steps required to meet their commitment to address homelessness by 2030.

“One measure is setting new targets for public housing provision and providing the necessary funding in the upcoming budget to meet them.

“While progress has been made, we need the state to provide a minimum of 15,000 social homes each year.”

He added: “Another is bringing forward an amendment to insert the right to housing into the Irish constitution.

“The Housing Commission is reported to have completed its work in this area, so the government is in a position to bring forward this amendment.

“These two actions in tandem can be a catalyst for the progress on homelessness that is so desperately needed.”