Homelessness figures up tenfold in recession

The number of homeless people helped by the Peter McVerry Trust has risen almost tenfold since the recession began.

The charity supported more than 3,500 people last year, compared to 383 people six years ago, according to its annual report published yesterday.

Speaking at the launch of the report, Fr McVerry said the future for homelessness and the housing sector “looks grim” and the Government’s promise to eliminate rough sleeping by 2016 will be impossible to keep under current funding.

Describing as “appalling” and “scandalous” that people are still sleeping rough in Ireland, he said frustration is growing among homeless people who believe there is no way out of the homeless trap.

Speaking earlier on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Fr McVerry said rent caps should be introduced in the short-term to tackle the housing crisis.

Accusing the Government of attempting to massage the figures of homelessness through the new Housing Assistance Payment bill, Fr McVerry said there was no low-cost solution and there had to be a return to investment in social housing.

That view was echoed by the Minister for Social Protection, Joan Burton, who said the Government had to begin an investment programme to get more houses built.

Ms Burton said a cap on rents was a good idea and was being examined by her colleague, Minister of State, Jan O’Sullivan. However, more social housing was needed.

Peter McVerry Trust’s annual report for 2013 shows that it supported 3,586 people last year, with young, single males accounting for the vast majority.

The charity is calling for significant increases in Government funding to address housing in the upcoming budget and the introduction of measures to tackle rent prices and discrimination against people on rent supplement.

The Trust’s CEO, Pat Doyle, outlined the growing number of people accessing its services.

“Last year we recorded a 17% increase in the number of people accessing our prevention services, with 1,001 people receiving support and advice,” said.

“The number of residential placements we provided increased to 2,124, a 25% increase on the previous year, while the number of meals rose from 57,000 in 2012 to 75,000 in 2013.”

Mr Doyle said that accommodation continued to be the single biggest issue for the sector.

“Last year the number of private rental properties available decreased and the gap between rent supplement and market prices continued to grow. Despite those challenges we helped 126 people to exit homelessness, meaning we have helped almost 270 people in the last two years to find a place to call their home.”

Mr Doyle said the ability to achieve the targets of ending the need to sleep rough and long-term homelessness by the end of 2016 now rested largely on whether Budget 2015 would deliver the necessary funding.

“We need Budget 2015 to deliver significant capital funding to acquire social housing units and provide exit points for people in homeless services.”