Number of homeless people just shy of 15,000 in new record
There were 14,966 people recorded as homeless in Ireland at the end of October, the highest figure ever recorded.
This includes 10,321 adults, and 2,161 families with 4,645 children who are facing into Christmas without a home.
It is a rise from the previous month, when there were 14,760 people recorded as homeless in Ireland.
Given the current trajectory, it appears extremely likely that the numbers will exceed 15,000 before the end of the year.
With the public going to the polls on Friday, advocates in the sector have urged newly-elected TDs to make solving this crisis a priority over the term of the next Dáil.
“Many families will sit down to enjoy the Toy Show with over 4,600 children facing Christmas in emergency homeless accommodation, some of them for the second and third year,” Focus Ireland CEO Pat Dennigan said.
“Politicians need to have these children in the front of their minds as they negotiate the new Programme for Government. This is an entirely solvable problem, and these children simply cannot wait any longer.” Mr Dennigan called for increased and targeted housing supply, and to ensure that a portion of new social homes can be accessed by those who are long-term homeless.
He pointed to the investment also needed in wraparound supports such as mental health services, care workers and community initiatives.
“The low wages for Section 39 workers, which has received much welcome attention since Charlotte Fallon raised it with the Taoiseach in Kanturk, also affects staff in homeless services (Section 10 workers) and requires real Government engagement rather than soothing words to resolve,” he added.
The Simon Communities of Ireland said it remains to be seen whether the next Government would take the action needed.
“Month on month, the figures continue to increase and seem to have inured us to the reality that behind these figures are real people, the men, women and children that remain caught in the daily misery of homelessness,” its interim executive director Tony Geoghegan said.
“While there have been commitments by Government over the years to address the issues, the problem continues unabated.” Depaul’s chief executive David Carroll said that whereas once a figure of 10,000 people was unacceptable, it is difficult to understand why such a greater figure is now acceptable.
“Little seems to be cutting through or making it high up on the list of priorities – but the future of 4,645 children trapped in the cycle of homelessness is now in the hands of any new government and they must adopt a swift and radical approach to addressing this national crisis,” he said.
Earlier this week, Sinn Féin had been among those calling for the early publication of the homelessness figures so that they wouldn’t be released on the day the country voted in the general election.
The Government accused the opposition of trying to “politicise” the issue with Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien saying that the figures are published on the last Friday of every month as they have to be “independently verified”.
The number of people in emergency accommodation has surged in recent years, after a fall during the Covid-19 pandemic.
In the month before the last general election, there were 10,271 in emergency accommodation. It has risen 47% since then.