Election 2024: Homelessness — 'The political debate has been characterised by point scoring'
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The numbers don’t lie and they are nothing short of appalling.
Over 10,000 people were recorded as homeless in Ireland for the first time in February 2019. The Government of the day described it as “disappointing”.
These numbers fell during covid — when the likes of the eviction ban and a rent freeze were introduced — so that when the coalition was formed, the number of people homeless in Ireland stood at 8,699.
Later in 2020, Focus Ireland said that these measures introduced during a time of emergency showed that they could effectively prevent and reduce homelessness.
“The covid-19 emergency has altered our perspective on many aspects of our lives, and should be used as an opportunity to alter our approach to homelessness beyond the pandemic,” it said.
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When the number went above 10,000 again in April 2022, the Government again said it was “very disappointing”. This was a year before the no-fault eviction ban was lifted but the direction of travel was clear.
The latest figures we have show that there were 14,760 people in emergency accommodation in September.
It’s almost 1,000 more families now compared to then without a home, potentially facing Christmas in a hotel or homeless hub. It’s over 4,500 children who are homeless, an additional 1,900 in the space of four years.
The Government points to its delivery of social homes, the increased pipeline of more on the way, and its efforts to prevent entries to, and increasing exits from, homelessness as a sign of what it’s doing to try to fix the crisis.
It’s very much an exercise in “this is bad, we’re working to fix it, and mitigate it while the work is going on”.
Since the Government took office, homelessness in Ireland has risen almost 70%.
The Government points to increases in the number of people exiting and being prevented from entering homelessness. But at the same time, the numbers tell us each month that overall we have more and more homeless people in Ireland.
On the current trajectory, it may not be long before we reach 15,000 homeless people in Ireland, a figure once as unthinkable as 10,000 was. And on it goes.
Experts working at the coal face say a radical reset is needed.
Focus Ireland CEO Pat Dennigan said the last Government seemed to conclude “that this is a problem that cannot be solved” while then-Simon Communities executive director Wayne Stanley said that it would be an “unforgivable dereliction of duty” if the next Government doesn’t take the action needed.
“Too often the political debate on housing and homelessness has been characterised by point scoring and finger-pointing, what people want are realistic and deliverable solutions,” Mr Dennigan said.
“The future of over 4,000 children trapped in homelessness depends upon the ability of our political parties to rise to this challenge.”
Among the calls of charities in the sector are clear asks such as a major increase in both the number of homes built and the number of social homes within that, from single-person units to family homes. Others also point to the landmark Housing Commission report published earlier this year for showing paths forward.
Even though all the numbers point to an abject failure as we constantly speak of records tumbling, little of it seems to be cutting through and making it high up on the agenda.
In an interview with the at the launch of his charity’s annual report, Mr Dennigan emphasised how important to remember that behind these figures were men, women, and children living without a home and to consider the devastating impact that can have on them.
“We would call on our supporters and people who follow us or who would listen to our message, when you get people on your doorstep for the election, ask these critical questions,” he said. “Ask them what political parties are going to do about the issue of housing, but also the issue of homelessness.”
Other items may hog the spotlight and that looks set to continue. But every so often, the impact of what’s currently happening can be driven home.
Chloe, who lives in a family hub with her son who has complex needs, spoke during the housing debate on RTÉ One’s programme. She was paying €2,700 in rent but had to leave her job after issues came up with her son’s creche, which led to her declaring herself homeless.
“It’s one single room, we’ve a fridge and a bathroom. The rooms are tiny,” she said.
When asked if she was coping, she said: “I’m not ... just about.”
Those questions must be asked of politicians in the run-up to this election. What will they do for Chloe and the literally thousands of families like hers? And for the thousands of others without a home?
There should be no excuses anymore. Homelessness has only gotten worse and worse. This appalling stain on our country cannot be allowed to continue.