The number of people homeless in the State has reached another record high of 13,841, with the number in Dublin surpassing 10,000 for the first time last month.
This an increase of 310 or 2.2 per cent on the January total of 13,531, according to the Department of Housing’s latest figures.
The total, which is accurate up to February 26th, consists of 9,671 adults and 4,170 children of whom 3,165 children are in the Dublin area. The number of children who are homeless increased by 143 in the last month.
This time last year, there were 11,742 people listed as homeless. The latest figure represents an increase of 2,099 or 17 per cent in homelessness in a single year.
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The figures for last month show that Irish-born account for just over half (55 per cent) of all the homeless with the rest coming from either EU or the UK (23 per cent) or further afield (22 per cent).
Dublin accounts for 70 per cent of all homeless people with 6,935 adults and 3,165 children without homes in the capital. It means that the number of homeless in Dublin city has surpassed 10,000 for the first time, reaching 10,100.
In addition the number of international protection applicants (IPAs) who are awaiting an offer of accommodation has now reached 1,517. The equivalent figure last week was 1,399.
Sinn Féin housing spokesman Éoin Ó'Broin noted the figures coincides with an admission by the Government that its social housing targets of 9,000 units was missed by 1,000 units last year. He suggested that only a general election will address the homelessness crisis.
“Homelessness is rising because the Government’s social and affordable housing targets are too low and are being missed every single year,” he said.
“This Government is not capable of solving this crisis. The longer they are in government, the worse the housing crisis is going to get. How high will [incoming taoiseach] Simon Harris allow homelessness numbers to rise before he accepts this fact?
“We urgently need a general election, a change of government and crucially a change of housing plan to deliver the volume of social and affordable homes that are needed to tackle this escalating crisis.”
The Social Democrats also drew attention to what it said was the failure of Government to deliver on its target for social homes this year. The party’s housing spokesman Cian O’Callaghan said: “Out of a target of 9,100 new build social homes, just 8,100 were delivered. At a time of record homelessness, the consistent failure to meet social housing targets has enormously damaging consequences.”
The Simon Communities of Ireland said tackling homelessness should be the top priority of Mr Harris. Executive director Wayne Stanley said the record number of children in homelessness reflects the scale of the crisis.
“The answer to this crisis lies in the construction of more social and affordable housing and more supports to those at risk of homelessness,” he said.
“While a commitment to greater ambition and a recognition of the scale of the crisis is welcome, the Government and the Taoiseach will be judged on results. A supportive government that is committed to shielding individuals and families from homelessness will drive the delivery of more social and affordable homes.”
Focus Ireland chief executive Pat Dennigan said the Government is falling behind in its provision of housing. Its present target of 33,000 new homes each year falls short of the 50,000 that is needed to effectively tackle the housing crisis, he said.
It ought to be possible, he believed, to deal with the 2,000 families in emergency accommodation which is a number that can be dealt with if there is a will.
“There has been a welcome rise in the provision of social housing in the last year but at the same time there has been a rise in homelessness as not enough of this housing is being used to provide homes for families and individuals who are homeless,” he said.
“There are solutions in the short, medium, and long term to this crisis. We have repeatedly called for a fairer allocation of social homes for homeless households.”
The Salvation Army, one of the biggest providers of homeless services in the capital, said the figures represent a “grim new milestone”.
“As most of us prepare to celebrate Easter with family and friends, thousands of others will be in emergency accommodation or out on the streets, wondering if they will ever have a place to call home,” said Captain Keith Greer, the charity’s company secretary in Ireland.
The National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI) said the Government must make reversing the drastic rise in youth homelessness a top priority.
People Before Profit Dublin city Councillor Hazel De Nortúin has called on the Government to reinstate the eviction ban in light of the figures.
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