The Simon Communities of Ireland are facing increasing pressure over the festive and New Year period and with another lockdown on the horizon.
According to the latest figures by the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, there were 8,484 men, women and children in homeless emergency accommodation in Ireland during the last week of November 2020.
- 1,034 were families – this is down on the previous month (1,117 families)
- 4,536 were single adults
- 3,442 were 25-44 years of age
- 3,925 were male
- 2,107 were female
Wayne Stanley, National Spokesperson for the Simon Communities, said;
“There has been a welcome fall in the number of families in emergency accommodation this month but we have to be cautious as some families are taken in by relatives during the Christmas period. Worryingly the number of single people in homelessness has risen again.
Simon services are preparing for what the Christmas and New Year period brings and the rocketing COVID numbers this week are very concerning. Christmas is always a time of heightened emotion and isolation for people experiencing homelessness and this year even more so as COVID numbers increase and we’re all asked to limit our contacts.
Many vulnerable people in homelessness have underlying health issues and we have to do everything we can to keep them safe. This may be the most challenging Christmas for our clients and frontline services in the 50 years we have existed.
The COVID crisis is again showing how critical a home is, 2021 should be the year of home and the Government must deliver on its commitment to hold a referendum on a right to housing,”
ENDS
For media queries and interview requests contact
Aileen Gaskin
P: 087 7724 717
E: communications@simoncommunity.com
About Simon Communities
The Simon Communities support over 18,000 men, women, and children. We have 50 years of experience providing homeless, housing and treatment services to people facing the trauma and stress of homelessness. We are a network of independent Communities based in Cork, Dublin, Dundalk, Galway, the Midlands, the Mid West, the North West and the South East, responding to local needs and supported by a National Office in the areas of policy, research, communications and best practice. We share common values and ethos in tackling homelessness and, informed by our grassroots services, we campaign for more effective policies and legislation regionally, nationally and at European level. Whatever the issue, Simon’s door is always open for as long as we are needed. For more information, please visit www.simon.ie.
Services include:
- Homelessness prevention, tenancy sustainment and resettlement.
- Street outreach, emergency accommodation and harm reduction.
- Housing with support and Housing First services.
- Homeless specific health and wellbeing services (counselling; addiction treatment and recovery; and mental health supports).
- Personal development, education, training, and employment services.
- Food banks, drop-in centres and soup runs.