Demand for homelessness services rises 130%

An organisation for the homeless has experienced a 130% jump over the last five years in the number of people accessing its services.

Novas, which operates in Limerick, Clare, Tipperary, Cork, Kerry, and Dublin, provided support to 2,219 individuals in 2014, compared to 961 in 2010.

Novas’ annual report for 2014 described this rise in demand as “unprecedented”, and said that 23% of those who sought help did not receive it as the organisation was over-subscribed.