The latest statistics reveal a further increase in the number of individuals relying on emergency accommodation in Ireland, reports RTE.
Figures released by the Department of Housing show that in June, the homeless population in the country reached 15,915.
This marks an increase of 168 people from the month of May, reports RTE.
Among those in emergency accommodation last month were 4,958 children and 10,957 adults.
There were also 2,320 families recorded as experiencing homelessness.
Pat Dennigan, CEO of Focus Ireland, described the situation as “heartbreaking,” highlighting that nearly 5,000 children are having their “childhoods stolen one day at a time.” He urged the Government to act with greater urgency in tackling the crisis, reports RTE.
“We should always take time to remember that behind every single number is a man, woman or child suffering the trauma of losing their home. Homelessness hurts everyone and it hurts children the most,” reports RTE.
At the same time, the Salvation Army has raised concern that thousands of young lives are being “suppressed” due to the homelessness crisis.
The charity and church organization, a major provider of emergency housing in Dublin, warned that behind the numbers lies a “truly awful impact” on children, reports RTE.
According to the Department’s June report, Dublin had 1,626 homeless families (up from 1,589 in May), with 3,666 children affected—77 more than in May’s total of 3,589.
Erene Williamson, who leads Homeless Services Ireland at the Salvation Army, said that at Houben House in Harold’s Cross—Ireland’s largest family homeless hub—”staff do their utmost to make living conditions as normal as possible for kids”, reports RTE.
“We have a diverse range of activities organised to occupy them, but the fact remains that every day they are not living independently, their childhoods are being suppressed. That removal of a vital part of growing up is particularly acute during the summer holidays,” reports RTE.
Ber Grogan, Executive Director of Simon Communities of Ireland, called it “so shocking” that nearly 5,000 children are living in emergency housing and suggested the true figure would be even greater when accounting for “hidden homeless”.
“For a rich country, it’s so inappropriate,” she said, reports RTE.
“This is something that the Government does have control over, we could reduce the numbers of children experiencing homelessness very drastically and very quickly,” reports RTE.
Ms Grogan also pointed out a sharp rise in the number of people aged over 65 now using emergency accommodation: “In the overall scheme of things, 249 people over 65 doesn’t seem like that large a group.
“But it has increased by more than 100% in the five years since 2020,” reports RTE.
She said Simon Communities and other advocacy groups have repeatedly warned the Government that more people are now “retiring into homelessness” as they cannot afford to pay rent on a pension income.
“We do flag this at an early stage and we have been flagging it for a while, but now the figures are showing that children and over-65s are the two fastest growing cohorts of people being forced to experience the trauma of homelessness,” she said, reports RTE.
Recent data also reveals a significant drop in the number of people kept out of homelessness through the Tenant in Situ scheme over the past year.
This decline drew criticism from opposition TDs and the Simon Communities, who blamed it on the Minister reducing funding allocated to local councils, reports RTE.
In its response, the Department of Housing said the Government “remained committed” to continuing the Tenant in Situ initiative as an option available to local authorities.
It noted that acquisition targets had been outlined for local authorities for 2023 and 2024, with capital funding planned for 2025, reports RTE.
“Earlier this year, at the request of Minister (James) Browne, Minister (Jack) Chambers agreed to allocate an additional €265m for such acquisitions, bringing the budget for 2025 to €325m. To date, overall, of the €325 million available for 2025, local authorities have drawdown only 36% of the allocated funding and no local authority has exhausted its individual allocated funding,” it said, reports RTE.
The Department emphasized that expanding the supply of housing—including social, affordable, and private options—”remains the ultimate solution” to tackling homelessness.
It concluded by noting that continued investment in second-hand property acquisitions is included in the nearly €2 billion being used to deliver new social housing in 2025, reports RTE.
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