Homelessness is a tale of empty promises and vacant houses

It was December 2014 and, with 331 families in temporary accommodation, an Emergency Homeless Summit was called, writes Elaine Loughlin.

Three housing ministers later — countless press releases, broken promises, policy launches, incentives and endless reviews — and the homeless crisis continues to break new records with growing numbers of children, mothers and fathers stuck in hotels and B&Bs each night.

By June of this year, Focus Ireland put the number of families without a home and living in emergency accommodation at 1,365.