Fall in number of people in emergency accommodation after administrative error
Cummins Larry Picture:
The number of people homeless in Ireland last month stood at 12,691, a fall of 156 on the figure recorded in July, but this reduction is due to an administrative error in the way previous totals had been counted.
The latest figures in emergency accommodation for August included 8,796 adults and 3,895 children. This figure for children is a record high, according to Focus Ireland.
Last month, it was revealed that there were 12,847 people accessing emergency accommodation at the end of July which was a new record.
In August 2022, there were 10,805 people in emergency accommodation in Ireland, meaning the overall number of people homeless in this country rose by 17% in the last year.
Sinn Féin housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin had earlier said that it was important that the Housing Minister does not use this “genuine error to massage” the latest homeless figures.
In a statement, the Department of Housing said the decrease is due to a correction on data by the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive (DRHE).
The DRHE said that a new online portal for private emergency accommodation facilities in Dublin went live in August and it emerged that a number of bookings had not been closed when the person left emergency accommodation, meaning they were incorrectly counted.
“The Dublin figures for August 2023 show a reduction of 308 single adults,” the DRHE said.
“This reduction is due to the correction of past data and not a significant change in presentations and/or exits to tenancy.”
The Department of Housing said an independent person had been appointed to review the data in Dublin while it was also engaged with the County and City Management Association to confirm the robustness and integrity of data nationwide.
“Reliable, accurate and accessible data is vital to the work of my Department and in maintaining public trust,” Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien said.
“Any statistical errors are concerning, and we have put in place a number of processes to ensure the integrity of the data going forward. I will review and expedite any recommendations arising from this work to uphold robust data collection in this vital area.”
Focus Ireland CEO Pat Dennigan said that the removal of 308 people from the numbers “does not change the unacceptable story of the last two years which is one of a relentless increase in homelessness”.
He said: “The Government is not using anywhere near enough of the new social housing supply coming on stream to drive down homelessness. Families and single people who are long-term homeless need to get a fairer share of the new homes that become available.”
Simon Communities of Ireland also said that the error cannot distract from yet another increase in homelessness.
“The focus now must be on Budget 2024 that will be announced on the 10th of October,” executive director Wayne Stanley said. “That is the next landmark moment that will tell us how the Government plans to prioritise housing and homelessness.
“If the State is to meet its commitment to address homelessness by 2030, now is the time to make a real difference to the lives of those experiencing or facing homelessness.
“The budget must deliver a significant investment in homelessness prevention, increases funding to ensure that support services are maintained and enhanced and that the State quickly moves to ensure delivery of a minimum of 15,000 social homes each year.”