Homelessness figure rises again as more than 17,500 people in emergency accommodation

The figures, released on Friday, show 5,659 children were homeless during the month. They also include 11,868 adults. 

The number of people living in emergency accommodation in Ireland increased again in July, reaching 17,527, according to new figures from the Department of Housing.

The figures, released on Friday, show that 5,659 children were homeless during the month, along with 11,868 adults.

The total is up slightly from 17,482 in June, which was itself a small increase on May's figure.

The figures show that 9,968 households are in emergency accommodation and that 10,283 people are members of families experiencing homelessness.

Simon Communities calls for greater urgency

Simon Communities of Ireland executive director Ber Grogan criticised the lack of political urgency to solve the homelessness crisis.

"While we welcome action to support households facing rising fuel costs, we need to see that same sense of urgency when it comes to homelessness," he said.

"Ireland’s homelessness crisis has deepened over the last decade, and there’s still no sense of urgency from Government. We need political leadership that matches the scale of the crisis. The Government must act now to prevent people from losing their homes, increase the supply of affordable and social housing, and ensure there are clear pathways out of emergency accommodation.

"It is increasingly frustrating that homelessness does not appear to be seen as a crisis by our elected representatives. Behind every one of these figures is a person, a family, a child or an older person who does not have a place to call home," Mr Grogan added.

Homeless children returning to school

Focus Ireland CEO Pat Dennigan said the figures were particularly concerning as children have returned to school and many young people are preparing to return to college and further education.

"As children settle back into classrooms and young adults prepare to begin a new academic year in colleges and universities across the country, it is deeply troubling that so many are doing so while living in emergency accommodation. For children, homelessness can affect every aspect of school life, from attendance and concentration to friendships and wellbeing. To give a sense of the scale of this human crisis, more than 5,000 children are currently without a home, the equivalent of at least 220 primary school classes."

Labour housing spokesperson Conor Sheehan called on housing minister James Browne to immediately publish the overdue Child and Family Homeless Plan, which the Irish Examiner revealed in July would be delayed as sources said Mr Browne sought for its funding to be guaranteed in October's Budget.

“The Dáil was brought back for an emergency one-day sitting to deal with rising fuel prices. Yet when it comes to more than 5,600 children without a home, we see nowhere near the same sense of urgency. Families experiencing homelessness deserve that same urgency from the minister.

“He cannot announce a plan, miss his own deadline and then go silent while thousands of children remain trapped in emergency accommodation. Families deserve to know what he is actually going to do to get them into secure homes."

Social Democrats housing spokesperson Rory Hearne said that the Dáil's recall on Friday to vote on excise cuts "stands in stark contrast" to the lack of an emergency response to homelessness.