It is a sad indictment for any Government to face up to headlines like this. Yet, the reality of today’s Ireland is as stark as the figures reveal.
Over 1,000 children were homeless and living in emergency accommodation in the capital alone during one week in March. This is the first time that figure of homeless children exceeds 1000, according to Focus Ireland.
During the week of March 23-29, 911 children in Dublin were registered as homeless and living in emergency shelter, according to the Dublin Region Homeless Executive. This figure was up from 803 in the previous month.
Overall, 1482 people were listed as living in emergency accommodation in the fourth week of March.
Focus Ireland lays the blame squarely at the feet of the Department of Social Protection, particularly due to their refusal to increase rent supplement rates.
In a statement, Focus Ireland said “This has left families unable to afford the rents which landlords now demand. The mass eviction and homelessness of large numbers of workless families is the direct and inevitable consequence of the Department of Social Protections policy.”
“The cost to the taxpayer of having so many families living in B&Bs and hotel rooms is enormous, every 50 families who are homeless costs €3m per annum to house.”