Homeless charity calls for more resources with 18,000 people in emergency accommodation

Depaul CEO David Carroll said homelessness was directly linked to the lack of affordable housing, and that there is an urgent need for more single-unit accommodation options. Picture: David Doyle

A leading homeless charity has said more resources are desperately needed to tackle a crisis that now has more than 18,000 people on the island of Ireland in emergency accommodation — and with a quarter of its clients last year women, sparking calls for specific female-only services.

The latest Depaul annual report shows it supported 3,670 people — 2,848 adults and 822 children — through its services last year, including the birth of eight babies to people it was working with.