Numbers aided by homeless charity up 20%

THE number of people supported by a homeless charity increased by almost 20% last year and there are signs it may have to come to the aid of almost 10,000 people this year.

Focus Ireland supported 6,500 people last year, compared to 5,500 in 2009, as demand for its services increased as the impact of the recession deepened.

It had already supported 3,700 people up to the end of May and warned that more people are at risk of becoming homeless.

The charity’s annual report was launched in Dublin yesterday by writer and director Gerard Stembridge, who joined Focus Ireland’s call on the Government not to repeat the mistakes of past governments as this would lead to a deeper housing and homelessness crisis.

Focus Ireland life president and founder, Sr Stanislaus Kennedy, said despite all the hard work and progressive policies on homelessness, successive governments had failed to tackle the problem during the Celtic Tiger years.

“A policy driven by ‘investment opportunities’, ‘tax breaks’ and ‘leverage’ and ‘equity’ may lead to a lot of building, but it will not build homes or communities,” she said. “We had the bizarre situation where millionaires paid limited or no tax while the number of homeless continued to rise.

“We have seen growing unemployment, pay cuts and more low earners in the tax net. There is also the additional burden of the universal social charge, the expected new water charges and increases in gas and electricity prices. This… will lead to gross inequalities, terrible poverty, suffering and stress for more and more people.”

Focus chief executive Joyce Loughnan said the census had revealed more empty dwellings than ever.

“There are still 5,000 people who are homeless, over 100,000 on housing waiting lists and many thousands struggling to keep a roof over their heads.”

A man attending the launch told how fire destroyed his home in 2004 and then two years later, when his wife died, he ended up living in a hostel for homeless men in Dublin.

He said the house had been insured but he owed money to the banks and gave what money was left to his two grown-up children.

“Focus Ireland has helped me get my confidence back and I now feel strong enough to make a new start,” he said.