29th July 2022
10,492 People in Homelessness – Simon Communities of Ireland Call for Action to move Beyond Crisis
With 10,492 people in homelessness, the Simon Communities of Ireland are calling on the Government to take the necessary action, outlined in their pre-budget submission, to move beyond crisis.
Recommendations in the pre-budget submission include bringing 5,000 vacant properties back into use, through the Repair and Lease Scheme, for people in homelessness and on the social housing waiting list as well as increasing funding towards homeless prevention and reforming HAP rates.
The latest figures by the Department of Housing, Heritage and Local Government, show the number of people in emergency homeless accommodation has risen for the sixth consecutive month.
There were 10,492 men, women and children in homeless emergency accommodation in Ireland during the last week of June 2022. This is an increase of 1.6% (167 people) in one month and a 31% increase (2,478 people) since this time last year. It is only 22 away from the highest homeless figure recorded by the Department in October 2019 (10,514).
- 1,385 were families – this is 19 (1.4%) more than the previous month (1,366 families)
- 5,177 were single adults – this is 123 (2.4%) increase on the previous month (5,054 single adults). This is the highest number of single adults in homelessness on record in the Department
- 3,071 were Children/Dependents – this is up 43 (1.4%) on the previous month (3,028 dependents)
- 1,246 were Young People aged 18-24 – this is an increase of 4 on the previous month (1,242) and up 468 (60%) year on year from 778 in June 2021. 1,246 is the highest number of young people in homelessness on record in the Department
- There was also a record number of adults (7,421), male adults (4,789), people aged 25-44 (4,015) and people aged 45-65 (2,011).
Wayne Stanley, Head of Policy and Communication at the Simon Communities of Ireland, said:
“The numbers today again highlight the need to take action to get ahead of the homelessness crisis. In our pre-budget submission launched today, we are raising 10 priority areas to tackle homelessness and we’re calling on Government to take the necessary steps to move beyond the crisis. Our first priority is to see Government grasp the opportunity that our high vacancy rate affords us, to give relief to some of those men, women and children struggling in homelessness or the thousands more in hidden homelessness. These actions will also build greater capacity in local authorities and create some breathing space in the social housing system while the direct build homes committed to in the Government’s strategy ‘Housing for All’, come online.”
ENDS
For further information contact Aileen Gaskin 087 7724 717 communications@simoncommunity.com
