‘Demand tsunami’ faced by homeless charities

CHARITIES who deal with homelessness are reporting a surge in demand for their services and have warned of a “demand tsunami” this winter.

The expected increase in demand has prompted calls for action to address why the number of people with nowhere to live is growing despite thousands of unsold houses and apartments lying vacant across the country.

Dublin Simon, the largest of the eight Simon communities, revealed in its latest report how it has recorded a 26% increase in the number of people sleeping rough during the early summer months compared with the same period last year.

It also reported a 35% increase in demand for sleeping packs — essential items to tide people over a night on the street — despite the fact that demand for such help usually falls during the summer months.

In a separate report, Merchants Quay Ireland said it was also providing 1,100 extra meals every week for mainly homeless and financially desperate people compared with the same time last year, a rise of 26%.

Dublin Simon chief executive Sam McGuinness said the figures came despite the group increasing bed numbers by 27% and emergency beds — mattresses on floors — by 100% in response to the past two winters. He said the charity was facing a “demand tsunami” this winter.

“Supply and demand are not in line and for the first time in quite some time. Sleeping bags are being handed out again,” he said.

“The critical issue is that all we can do when we get a bubble like this is stick people in emergency accommodation — 37% of people . . . have been there over five years and 74% have been there over a year.

“That’s an emergency becoming a long-term situation,” he added.

The Simon Communities of Ireland said their services are operating at full capacity across the country.

Niamh Randall, the national research and policy manager, said the surge in Dublin was likely to be replicated. “We wouldexpect to see it first in the urban centres. That’s one of the reasons why the Dublin Simon figures are so worrying.”

Last week, the Government’s own housing needs assessment revealed 98,318 households were on waiting lists for social housing — a 75% increase since 2008 — while 23,000 new homes are estimated to be lying empty with up to 100,000 partially completed units also potentially available.

Merchants Quay Ireland saw a 38% increase in the number of people using its homelessness drop-in service. Chief executive Tony Geoghegan said: “This is an indication of the increasing poverty and desperation experienced by so many in our society.” He said the Government displayed “no sense of urgency” in tackling the problem.

The Department of the Environment is due shortly to complete a review of the previous government’s five-year strategy on homelessness and set new targets for eliminating the numbers sleeping on the streets or in temporary accommodation.