Numbers of homeless seeking shelter on helpline doubles

NUMBERS of homeless people seeking emergency accommodation through an after-hours helpline almost doubled over a six-month period this year in a surge described as “unsustainable with the current resource” by Community Welfare Officers (CWOs).

Documents received under the Freedom of Information Act, show that in January the HSE-run Homeless Persons Unit received 5,084 calls from people seeking emergency accommodation, but in July this rose to 9,330.

The rate of calls going unanswered rose from 12% in January to almost 18% in July.