Homelessness: Number of people in emergency accommodation rises to new high of 15,747
Homelessness has reached another record high with latest data from showing there were 15,747 people in emergency accommodation in May, including almost 5,000 children.
The report, published on Friday by the Department of Housing, shows during the week of May 19th to 25th there were 10,903 homeless adults and 4,844 children across the State.
This is an 11 per cent increase since May of last year and is up by 167 people, including 69 more children, since April.
In Dublin, where the crisis is at its most acute, there were 11,323 people in emergency accommodation, including 3,589 children. There were 7,064 homeless single adults last month, of whom 4,912 were in Dublin.
READ MORE
None of these statistics include people without homes and living in domestic violence shelters, sofa surfing, living on overcrowded conditions, sleeping rough or who have permission to remain in Ireland but are stuck in International Protection accommodation as they cannot access housing.
Sinn Féin housing spokesman Eoin Ó Broin said the Government was 'failing children' and the crisis for families had been ongoing for more than a decade.
'Child and family homelessness crisis really took off in 2014,' he said. 'In December of that year there were 880 children in Department of Housing funded emergency accommodation. Figures released today by the Department of Housing show that in May there were 4,844 children in emergency accommodation, up 69 on April.'
Catherine Kenny, chief executive of Dublin Simon Community, said: 'In light of today's numbers, stability must be at the forefront in addressing the chaotic housing market with chronic shortages.
'All eyes are now focused on a housing plan and Budget 2026 as to what it will provide as incentives to kick-start a greater housing supply in a market that has plateaued.
'As the new rental rules will do little to help those stuck in emergency accommodation, the next national housing plan, due in a few weeks, must bring meaningful measures for those who are experiencing homelessness.'
Focus Ireland chief executive Pat Dennigan said:
'I regret to say that the new figures clearly show that the Government's current approach to homelessness is failing.
'There needs to be far more urgency in the Government's response to help end this terrible human crisis.''
Mr Dennigan said: 'This should be a carefree time for children as they enjoy school holidays and the longer evenings. Instead of this, the harsh reality for many children who are homeless is that they are living in family hubs or hotels without anywhere suitable to play or have friends over.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Independent
5 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Eoin Ó Broin calls for new state regulator to oversee apartment block management companies
Reforms requiring firms to set up sinking funds to deal with unexpected costs should go further, says Sinn Féin housing spokesman Companies in charge of running apartment buildings will be required to set up sinking funds to deal with unexpected costs under new legal changes — but there are calls for reforms to go further. Sinn Féin housing spokesman Eoin Ó Broin said a new regulator needs to be established to have oversight of the owner management companies (OMCs) managing blocks of flats. He also called for the Property Services Regulatory Authority (PSRA) to be given additional powers to take action against agents working for OMCs to manage apartment complexes. OMCs are usually made up of apartment owners. They run common areas and shared services in multi-unit complexes, but under a new remediation scheme for defective apartments they will also be responsible for applying for grant funding and managing repairs for fire safety and water ingress. Some owners want to see a register of OMCs established to give better oversight of the sector. Government reforms will see responsibility for legislation transferred from the Department of Justice to the Department of Housing. It is expected this will also mean responsibility for the PSRA will move to the Department of Housing. Discussions about transferring these responsibilities are ongoing, but sources said the talks have stopped short of proposing a new register and a regulatory body to oversee OMCs. Correspondence between Department of Justice officials, obtained by Mr Ó Broin under Freedom of Information, shows new regulations under the multi-unit development act 'will be made… to ensure that OMCs are financially sustainable'. This will see regulations introduced requiring OMCs to 'provide for expenditure of a non-recurring nature (ie, sinking fund expenditure)', it states. ADVERTISEMENT They will also set out the class of items which may be subject to annual service charges, and set procedures around setting, levying and paying these charges. Mr Ó Broin said he would like to see reforms of the sector go further. There needs to strong regulation of the property services sector 'There needs to be a regulator of the multi-unit development act, where it would oversee and regulate the OMCs and also produce mechanisms where if there is a dispute between OMC members it could be resolved outside of the courts. That is necessary,' he added. 'The PSRA will move to the Department of Housing. 'That should have happened a long time ago and that is relevant because the OMCs — which represent the owners and owner directors — often appoint agents who run complexes. 'They are regulated by the PSRA which has a voluntary code of conduct and no enforcement powers. 'There needs to be not only a regulator for the OMCs, but strong regulation of the property services sector.' A Department of Housing spokesman said the Programme for Government commits to transferring responsibility for the multi-unit development act from the Department of Justice 'to streamline support for owners' management companies and improve oversight'. He added that work collaborating with the Department of Justice in preparing new regulations around service charges and establishing sinking funds 'are now at an advanced stage'.
Irish Times
a day ago
- Irish Times
What the new rent rules mean for landlords and tenants
The Government's emergency legislation aimed at making the whole State a Rent Pressure Zones (RPZs) has all the hallmarks of a rushed job. When first announced earlier this month the details seemed vague; renters and landlords were confused as to what it might mean for them; even Government officials called to explain the new measures in interview after interview, struggled. Irish Times consumer affairs correspondent Conor Pope regularly does reader call-outs, testing levels of consumer confusion and frustration. He asked for queries – from tenants and landlords – in relation to the new legislation with the promise that he would take these queries directly to the Department of Housing for clear answers. READ MORE This is what he learned. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon.
Irish Times
a day ago
- Irish Times
Where is the value in increasing the Help-to-Buy scheme threshold?
Pre-budget submissions are all about pleadings. Every special interest group in the State makes a pitch for more resources. They all consider their proposals to be in the wider public and economic interest. Some are worthy, many more are largely self-interested. This year the whole process appears to have kicked off earlier than usual, perhaps on the understanding that the largesse of recent years is unlikely to be repeated this time around. In the first place, there is no election. Worries for the medium-term health of Europe's most open economy in a climate where tariffs, trade wars and an absence of consistency on policy are increasingly the norm also will inevitably push Ministers towards a more cautious approach. And for what money is available, the need is to prioritise investment in infrastructure. Expensive upgrades to electricity, water and sewerage networks that are increasingly being cited by foreign direct investors among factors counting against Ireland Inc are needed. READ MORE An EY survey on Friday found that more than two-thirds of Irish businesses 'are worried about securing enough energy to meet future needs', which is an extraordinary number. Put together, it means more things are going to be a tough ask to get over the line. [ First-time buyers in Dublin now locked out of Help-to-Buy scheme, warns Savills Opens in new window ] It seems a strange time then for estate agent Savills to be picking CSO house price data to press for an increase in the upper threshold for the Help-to-Buy scheme. Savills says first-time buyers in Dublin are paying an average of €515,000 for a home, putting them beyond the €500,000 ceiling for Help-to-Buy. It wants that ceiling increased to at least €621,000 to take account of inflation, it says. First, averages are notoriously prone to manipulation by singular expensive property sales. Second, the more reliable median data from the same CSO note shows that prices exceed €460,000 only in Dún Laoghaire Rathdown among the four Dublin local authority areas. [ Developers are bluffing when they say lower prices would undermine viability of house building Opens in new window ] Then there is the maximum available tax refund under Help-to-Buy, which is €30,000. Ignoring that when calling for a higher ceiling is not making property more affordable for first-time buyers in general, only for the very wealthy. It is worth remembering that while the marketing speaks about providing a helping hand for first-time buyers – with even the scheme's name selected for the same reason – Help-to-Buy was from the start a scheme put together to help developers make the numbers stack up on building starter homes. That's not happening, as supply constraints (and prices rising at their fastest rate in 10 years) attest, so for the State – and those first-time buyers – what is the value of widening the incentive?
