Homeless services spending up by 24% in the south-west

Spending on homeless services in the south-westrose 24% last year to over €7.4m as the region’s housing crisis deepened.

Figures published by the Department of Housing show €7,406,873 was spent on an array of supports to tackle the problem of homelessness in Cork and Kerry in 2017 — an increase of more than €1.4m on the previous year when it was just under €6m.

The increased spending reflects the upward trend in the number of people classified as homeless in the two counties over the previous 12 months.