‘We need to act now’ – Homelessness in Ireland hits new record high as figures soar to 15,418 in ‘staggering’ new report

Some 4,603 children are homeless

A RECORD 15,418 people were living in emergency accommodation in Ireland last month, 4,675 of whom are children, figures show.

The official 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 Central Bank of Ireland has also warned that Ireland is on track to miss its housing targets for the next three years.

Reacting to the new figures, Catherine Kenny, CEO of Dublin Simon Community said: “Emergency accommodation is limited. Beds are full or near capacity.

“People can only access it when someone else leaves or a new space opens up.