Homeless charity says number of people it supported doubled in 2022

The number of people supported by homeless charity Depaul doubled last year to almost 7,500, with more than a quarter of service users reporting substance use issues.

According to the charity’s annual report, a total of 7,455 people were supported last year, including 1,647 children, more than twice the number assisted in 2021. Some 763 families came through Depaul’s services, a 60 per cent increase on the previous year.

A total of 499 service users moved out of homelessness and into suitable long-term accommodation, the annual report states, while 14 babies were born into its services.

A total of 202 lives were saved by Depaul staff through the administration of Naloxone, medication used to reverse opioid overdoses, the organisation said. The number of clients with substance misuse issues highlighted “the need for a radical rethink of Ireland’s national drug policy”, the charity said.

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Depaul chief executive David Carroll said the organisation is “proud to have led through this turbulent year with a strong and significant response”.

“We could not have achieved what we did without the support of the Depaul team, the volunteers and supporters,” he said.

“However, as we recognise our achievements, we must continue to acknowledge that addressing homelessness requires more than temporary solutions. Urgent early interventions are essential to break the cycle of dependency, especially for vulnerable individuals, preventing homelessness from becoming an intergenerational norm.”

The annual report highlights the impact that security of tenure can have on homelessness, with 4,329 notices to quit being issued to tenants in the final three months of last year.

“This, on top of the high numbers accessing emergency accommodation, underlined the importance of the role of housing provision in eradicating and preventing homelessness,” he said.

“Depaul is incredibly concerned that the lack of housing will exacerbate the homelessness crisis even further into 2024. Increased efforts and initiatives must be made to ensure that housing can be accessed by those most in need.”

Regarding the need for additional health supports for people in homeless services with addiction issues, Depaul’s Dermot Murphy said many clients have experienced trauma in their lives and “additional mental health and addiction support are crucial for this cohort”.

“We are seeing younger people with complex health needs presenting to our services and this comes with additional support needs,” he said. “We know from experience that having services and people in the background has been shown to support service users when they stop using alcohol or drugs. It’s a reassurance for them,” he added.