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THERE ARE “DEEP concerns” over the rise in the number of people who are homeless, after the number jumped to 8,475 in September.
The number of homeless increased for the fourth consecutive month, according to figures published by the Department of Housing.
Data shows the number of people homeless in August was 8,212, an increase of 263 in a month.
But the department said that the number had dropped compared to last September when there were 8,656 people homeless.
Since hitting its highest level in October 2019, the numbers of individuals in emergency accommodation has decreased by 2,039, from 10,514 to 8,475.
There were 1,005 families in emergency accommodation in September, an increase of 52 on the 953 recorded in the previous month.
September 2021 showed a decrease of 123 families on the 1,128 total recorded in September 2020.
From its highest level, the number of homeless families is down to 773, having been reduced from 1,778 in July 2018.
A total of 2,344 children are in emergency accommodation, an increase of 155 on the 2,189 recorded in August.
The report also shows that during the last three months, a total of 1,308 adults and their dependants exited homelessness into tenancies or were prevented from entering emergency accommodation.
A total of 4,043 exits from homelessness have been achieved in the year to date.
Focus Ireland CEO, Pat Dennigan, said: “During 2020, incredible work was achieved during the pandemic to keep the most vulnerable protected.
“Despite this latest setback, we made major progress working with the State, local authorities and NGOs to reduce the number of people homeless from a record total of over 10,000 to under 8,000.
“We are now deeply concerned that the figures are heading in the wrong direction, undoing the major progress that was made last year.
“The progress that was made during the last two years is now being lost because we have stopped doing the things that worked – protecting renters and freezing rents.
“Unfortunately, we are facing another winter in which many children will be spending Christmas in emergency accommodation.”
Minister for Housing, Darragh O’Brien, said: “The increase in homelessness figures seen in recent months is a serious concern for the Government.
“While we have made significant improvements on the situation we were facing two years ago, when homelessness was at its highest, there is still a huge amount of work to be done.
“In September, the Government published Housing for All and committed to building on this progress by eradicating homelessness by 2030.
“There are challenges in the short term, with housing supply being constrained over the past two years.
“Housing for All includes 18 distinct actions tailored to eliminate homelessness. Four billion euro in capital funding is being invested annually on social and affordable housing.
“This is the biggest such programme in the history of the State.
“There will be an increase in supply across all tenure types, with over 90,000 social homes, 36,000 affordable homes and 18,000 cost rental homes to be delivered by 2030.”
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Yeah.. you look real concerned..
@James Daly: Exactly, swilling Cognac and smoking a fat cigar. Classic FF
@James Daly: He couldn’t give a toss!
@James Daly: as of 20 57 there are less than 2,000 likes for all the anti Govt comments which is strangely muted for a problem impacting millions. Wait til the GE!
@James Daly: Minister O’Brien reminds of Napoleon (the pig) from Animal Farm. A side-by-side of them, I’d be pushed to pick the human from the line up.
@Alan Wright: mean
His party said same thing 10+yrs ago. Somethings never change.
@Mick Andrews: Yeah but they are consistent in their deep concern over the years.
Darragh O’Brien is a spoofer
@Christybhoy67: Certainly , just wonder when They are going to cop on to this buck .The is a total waste of time .
When ye are doing nothing about it how can you be surprised
So you weren’t concerned when it was only 8000?
Concerning really? Is it concerning enough for him to act on it… I wont hold me breathe.
A National scandal. Shame on them all both in national and local government.
So that decrease in numbers since last September…I wonder how many of those homeless people have actually died…is that taken into account?
These massaged numbers are so annoying. You can take that number and double it. More probably.
The new narrative on the air ways and spouted in the rags; it’s a complicated issue. Here is an idea, make investment funds buying of the plans pay their fare share in taxes, it might be used to hasten the insipid approach to nationwide problem plaguing the country for years. His whole party should have a stone put on a chain around their necks for every year this facade continues, maybe they’ll now their heads with the appropriate shame they should feel. Young people can’t get on the property ladder, families becoming homeless it goes on and on “sure we don’t facilitate the inflated merry-go-round of a property market” a cod is all this chancer is and feathering his nest nothing else. Politicians/millionaires, there is a very real questionable aspect to this sham.
Deep concerns dont House people. Has this Clown got any ideas???
Sure as heck wasn’t a serious concern in the budget now was it Minister. Managed to find money to uplift the horse and dog racing gambling funding. And will managed to give themselves a nice payrise in a while too. Simple fact is they don’t give a toss and throw out a few media soundbites of “o that’s awful” or “that concerns us” but no action.
Looks like he could do with a bed!!
Well do something about it!
Here is an idea ..
Stop evictions. …
Serious concern
Sure we believe you…
@Kerry Evans: The issue is that the government is putting too much faith in Private Sector to resolve the issue. The national plan is flawed. If there was a player who could come in and undercut everyone there would be loads of houses available at a more affordable price but it doesn’t look like there is such a player. So what happens is that the sector can continue to underdeliver in terms of supply and keep prices high despite a nice fancy new strategy, which actually has a shortfall in supply built in. When the market cannot deliver it is time for a publicly funded solution, the role of government is to intervene and put in a place a public solution.
Must be a massive shock to him, its not like the cost of everything has gone, the ordinary man on streets wages have remained the same, a big percentage of the country was struggling to make ends meat as it was, but ya he’s really concerned, clown
Would that be his first or second neck talking?
Well do something a bl0ody bout it ffs
People should be able to buy with 1-2 years of stable income. There should be no need for a massive deposit, perhaps they could introduce a mandatory insurance for whatever the need for a deposit is (protection against negative equity etc.). This housing crisis is just ridiculous now. We need more new houses, fully or part financed by the state, with controlled prices, which should cool the market down. This problem is only going to get worse otherwise, as the population is not dropping any time soon and there is a rising trend towards single person households too.
The number of homeless is not a realistic metric to measure government performance against. There is no way that the government can predict how many people can become homeless, because there are too many variables
(rent increases/AirBnB/immigration/family breakup/job loss/mental&physical illness/landlord evictions etc.)
The only metric that counts is the number of new units promised vs delivered.
Would that be hist first chin or second chin that is concerned? He could not give a rats A**e in the slightest and neither could the people that voted for him
We know Housing First is the way to fix this issue. Get them indoors. The sheer humanity of it aside, it is shown to be a more cost-effective solution in every country it has been trialled compared to “staircase services” because it reduces frequent use of emergency medical and psychiatric services, prevents long and unproductive stays in other forms of homelessness services (hotels?!) and lessens rates of contact with the criminal justice system.
https://housingfirsteurope.eu/guide/what-is-housing-first/housing-first-in-europe/
Can’t find the money to help this vulnerable cohort though. Thousands and thousands on the streets in winter. Mad isn’t it?
If only there was a profitable way to help them…
@Conor Brady: Housing first is just an idealistic dream and a serious diversion.It just fills people with a false hope. Providing everyone with a home and a right to housing would cost many many billions and on top of that you would need to provide services to people to sustain it, on an ongoing basis. A new approach is badly needed and homes designed to meet the needs of say a single parent family of one child up to a married couple with 4 kids+. A break down of the type of homeless people out there eg single parent…….etc. Some years back people bought their council homes. Crazy, just depleted stock. All council housing contracts should be reviewed every 10 years. If family incomes get high enough, people should no longer be entitled and moved on or when the kids move out, the parents should be moved to smaller accommodation to free up space. Not ideal but better than no plan. The Elephant that is holding FFG back in my opinion is if people do get houses, that will reduce the value of many houses in the market.This could restrict others from ‘ upsizing’
Dublin is a disaster. Homeless and the high level of certain migrants recently arriving has left the city in a sad state. Begging is happening everywhere so the city is becoming very uncomfortable. Housing is not the only problem.
You can’t expect them to be built overnight.
https://twitter.com/socdems/status/1447587296124014594?s=21
@Peter McGlynn: ” Overnight ” are you serious? This has been going on for years now!
@Colette Kearns: did you even look at the clip?
Serious concern to who- the government or the homeless?
To many new residents in the country never catch up unless regulations and high rise are reexamined
FFS will he get off his what you may call it
Yes, that the face of concern right there
#criminal
Is that first time you expressed concern because you were not concerned before jump in homelessness hits the papers you should be called the dehouseing minister
Globally, Ireland is 10th on the list of countries with empty houses. Show your concern by DOING something!
He is only realising it now
Typical from finna fail populist politics.
Fake concern more like
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