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THE NUMBER OF people accessing emergency accommodation has seen a slight decrease between October and November, according to new figures released by the Department of Housing.
The total number of people presenting at emergency accommodation was 8,484 in November, which is a drop of 253 people on October. This total includes single people and families.
All figures were compiled between 23 and 29 November.
In October, there were 6,095 adults presenting at emergency accommodation, while in November it dropped to 6,032.
The highest figures remain in Dublin, where 4,243 people accessed emergency accommodation in November. Of these, 2,749 were men while 1,494 were women.
There has also been a reduction in the number of families accessing emergency accommodation, with 1,034 families accessing accommodation in November compared to 1,117 in October.
There is also a slight reduction in the number of children in emergency accommodation, with 2,452 presenting in November compared to 2,642 in October.
However, there has been an increase in the number of single adults attending emergency accommodation. In October, the figure stood at 4,495 but rose to 4,536 at the end of November.
Focus Ireland has called on the government to introduce a broader eviction ban until April 2021.
Focus Ireland CEO, Pat Dennigan has said that by linking the eviction ban to Covid-19 restrictions, it becomes hard to follow as Ireland rapidly changes levels.
“People who rent their homes need to deal with the same challenges and disappointments as everyone else, but they also must be constantly anxious about whether their home is secure. A simple commitment is needed from the Government that renters cannot be evicted through no fault of their own, until the pandemic is over,” said Dennigan.
The Simon Community has also said that they are facing further pressure due to the Christmas period and the additional restrictions being implemented.
Wayne Stanley, National Spokesperson for the Simon Communities welcomed the fall in people accessing emergency accommodation but said he is concerned due to rising cases of Covid-19.
“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,” said Stanley.
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.
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Person without a home in terenure today gathering money so they don’t have to sleep rough tonight. Lovely man with manners that would make a president jealous. When Enda Kenny looks back at his time in government, homelessness will be one of his biggest failures.
I’d have to see the guy sleeping in a doorway before I’d believe it. There is a lot of chancers begging out there and only a few deluded people don’t think that is the case
John S go out tomorrow night during the storm walk around the Dublin streets, you will believe it then you twit, but you won’t do that, to comfortable in your nice warm house and saying ” I’m all right mac, bugger you “
Yes an absolute disgrace that charity is not started at home before sending it abroad…..asylum seekers put up in hotels and houses while our OWN are left in cardboard boxes …….disgrace Kenny
Exactly, Chris. Where is Aodhán or that other charlatan Denise when it comes to matters like this? They’re vociferous when it’s not our own!
Homelessness could be solved if the will was there, the money is there but not the will on behalf of the government. There was no shortage if money when it came to installing water meters in our homes, the vast amount if money being pumped into IW and paying for their bonuses could easily have being used to solve this crisis in our country but it is not deemed to be as important as obeying our political and financial masters in Europe.
Meanwhile our government gives away over €600million in overseas aid and pledges another €2.5million to help rebuild Gaza. I wonder is it because these unfortunate souls aren’t visible through the plush curtains of Leinster House they are forgotten.
Bit mad watching ireland abstain from Israel sanctions at the UN then we send money to rebuild the national we failed to protect.
Huge thanks to all the 98 leaders who were involved and who together will raise over €400,000. It’s so needed. Between 40 and 50 families are coming to us each month looking for support having lost their homes.
The govt simply don’t care about homelessness, like people say if they really wanted to they could build everyone a lovely home to live in. The people in the dail on the whole would have no real experience of homelessness and trying to deal with the system as it’s set up. I’d reason to have to access it before and found it totally impractical to a person’s needs. I’d challange any td to go incognito as a homeless person and see how crap the help is.
The amount of poor souls sleeping rough is a disgrace. And it’s not just FG and Labour who have to commit to this. FF and SF and all the independents need to get together and tackle this . For once let’s see all the poloticians we voted for and who work for us do something about this
Homeless don’t vote.
Not all homeless people beg and not all beggars are homeless.
I raised the issue of not putting our own first when we built a female mutilation clinc this year and was called a bigot because of it. Iv seen more and more homeless sleeping in door ways on my way to work each day over past few years. I personal buy one cup of tea and one sandwhich a week for a homeless woman. If everyone done the same at least they wouldn’t be hungrey. I’m not saying this for praise but maybe more people will do it. I got the idea when I seen people doing it one morning.
Some people are homeless due to alcohol/drug dependency. Hostels won’t let anyone stay if they are under the influence. Maybe the government need to tackle the drug&alcohol problem.
Watch this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THxtcWNw3QA
the American Dream
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