Hoteliers warning over use of rooms for homeless accommodation

The Irish Hotels Federation has issued a warning over any longer term use of hotel rooms to house people who are homeless, claiming it can only ever be a temporary measure.

The Dublin Region Homeless Executive has said its projected spend on hotel accommodation this year will be €4.5m — more than three times the €1.3m spent last year and multiples of the €455,000 spent in 2012.

Focus Ireland, which works with many families living in hotels in the capital, including one who told the Irish Examiner of their experience, have warned that families living in hotels are feeling the strain and that measures need to be taken to limit the amount of time they are required to live in hotel rooms.