The Simon Communities of Ireland have welcomed the formation of an Oireachtas Committee on Housing and Homelessness. The charity said that it hoped the Committee will play a key role in immediately addressing the pervasive housing and homeless crisis.

The Simon Communities of Ireland have said that the latest emergency accommodation figures are shocking and clearly demonstrate that the existing measures to tackle homelessness are clearly failing. The national figures, released for January, show that there are 5,715 people trapped in emergency accommodation, a year on year increase of 49%. There are 1830 children (a year on year increase of 111%) and 884 families (a year on year increase of 120%). There figures also report a devastating 2,694 adults without dependants their care are in emergency accommodation. 

The Simon Communities in Ireland today have called for the new cabinet to have a specific senior Minister for Housing with the authority and support to address the housing and homeless crisis. The charity have said that urgent action is needed now. 

Four national homelessness charities have come together to urge all parties and groups to commit to making homelessness and housing a top priority if elected. Focus Ireland, Simon Communities of Ireland, Society of St Vincent de Paul and Threshold said that the housing and homeless crisis shows no signs of abating and that the numbers in emergency accommodation have reached alarming levels. 

The Simon Communities today launched their Election Manifesto, ‘Changing the Forecast: Addressing the Homeless and Housing Crisis, outlining the priorities for the next government if they are to effectively address the housing and homeless crisis as a matter of urgency. The Simon Communities are asking for the public’s support in the forthcoming general election by raising the housing crisis with their local candidates. The charity said that the housing and homeless crisis has continued to worsen over the lifetime of the current Government, and will continue unabated without urgent action.