Fix for homelessness and rent crisis ‘a long way off’

The homelessness and rent crisis is a long way from being solved and will require increased building of homes over many years, according to Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy.

The November homeless statistics show a 4% increase on October, with 5,524 adults and 3,333 children without a home last month.

The latest report from the Residential Tenancies Board shows rents have gone up 9.5% in the last year and are now 7% higher than their Celtic Tiger peak.

Mr Murphy said the latest “disappointing” figures could only be addressed through more house building, adding that 3,600 social houses are now on site with another 2,000 homes ready to go on site.

“Of course it’s a crisis and that’s why it’s an absolute priority for Government to fix this crisis and to fix the problem but it’s going to be with us until we get those homes built,” he said.

It comes as President Michael D Higgins used his Christmas and new-year message to highlight the plight of homelessness.

Mr Higgins said that once again “the burden of homelessness will overshadow the festive season for those deprived of a secure and permanent shelter”.

Drawing parallels with the story of the nativity, and the birth of a child in a temporary home, he expressed hope the festive season would foster a renewed commitment to help those in need.

He asked people to be inspired to answer the call to “stand in human solidarity with those for whom, and for whatever reason, this Christmas will be a dark and difficult one”.

“We are challenged, I suggest, to turn this time of celebration into a sustained commitment of awareness and care for those for whom each day is an act of survival,” said Mr Higgins, thanking those who work to support the vulnerable.

“I know that Irish citizens across the world will stand with those who are suffering and that they will, as before, support those who are responding to these crises, and who are thus showing solidarity with the most vulnerable.”

Separately, homelessness charity Depaul has announced it will be keeping its hostels open 24 hours over Christmas but called on the Government to end ‘partial access’ facilities for the homeless and increase funding for full-time services.

Emergency one-night-only hostels are partial access, meaning service users must leave the premises in the morning, often with nowhere to go until late in the evening when they can again access hostel services.

Depaul chief executive Kerry Anthony said homeless people are at the mercy of the cold and wet Irish winter during these hours. There are no exceptions for those who are unwell, or even pregnant. The reason for this is an allocation of funding.

Ms Anthony said: “Whilst I am glad that we are able to facilitate Christmas for our service users, it really brings to light the importance of re-assessing partial access services. We need to engage with people in order to move them on from homelessness and this is difficult to do in a one night only system.”