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Heather Humphreys in the Dáil today

'They aren’t living on the streets': Humphreys defends housing for some homeless families

Minister Heather Humphreys made the comments today during Leaders’ Questions.

MINISTER FOR SOCIAL Protection Heather Humphreys has told the Dáil today that when homeless families are discussed, they are not “living on the street, the state is providing these families with accommodation”.

The Fine Gael TD for Cavan-Monaghan made the comments in response to questions from Labour Party leader Ivana Bacik who raised the record high level of homelessness in the state. 

Bacik asked what will be done over the summer to ensure that “people have the necessary supports to keep a roof over their heads and to keep them in their own homes” in the face of the rental crisis. 

“Minister, mortgages are out of reach for countless people, particularly for those who are single, for those who are living in cities. Even your own affordable schemes are out of reach for many people even on good salaries,” Bacik said. 

She added: “And renting is now neither affordable nor available for those who cannot scrape together the money for a deposit to buy.”

In response, Minister Humphreys, who was filling in for Taoiseach Simon Harris today during Leaders’ Questions, said no option is off the table when it comes to housing.

“We’re in the business of looking for more ideas, more novel approaches more innovative ways to continue to increase housing supply,” she said.

Humphreys continued: “You mentioned homelessness. I know the figures are out at the end of this week and I do know that there are too many people and too many children in emergency homeless accommodation.

However, context is important. Families become homeless all the time for various reasons and the most common reason is relationship breakdown. We can never stop that from occurring.

“But we will continue to help families to avoid entering emergency accommodation and help them exit as soon as possible if they do.”

“It’s important to say that when we talk about homeless families, they are not living on the street. The state is providing these families with accommodation.

“And it’s something that we continue to work on. We are making progress. There’s no doubt about that,” Humhpreys said.

In response, Bacik said she was “troubled” by the Minister’s response. 

She said: “Of course we all agree that the key issue here is achieving increased supply, increased delivery of homes. I couldn’t agree more with you. But the problem is your Government has not done enough to address this.”

The latest monthly homeless figures will be released by the Department of Housing on Friday.

Last month, the number of people living in emergency accommodation increased to a record 14,009. This included 4,206 children.

In addition to this, it is estimated that 32,000 people on the island of Ireland are affected by hidden homelessness.

Hidden homelessness is used to describe those whose insecure housing situation is not visible on the streets because they may sleep in cars, couch surf, or are squatting elsewhere. 

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    Mute SV3tN8M4
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    Jun 26th 2024, 1:26 PM

    A let them eat cake moment by Humphreys

    411
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    Mute 9QRixo8H
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    Jun 26th 2024, 3:01 PM

    “Homes are not for HOUSING people, if everyone could have a home then they’d have NO VALUE” – HH.

    93
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    Mute 9QRixo8H
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    Jun 26th 2024, 3:04 PM

    “The 32,000 hidden HOMELESS people? Someone please think of the HOUSE PRICES for crying out loud” – HH.

    99
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    Mute Hayagriva
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    Jun 26th 2024, 2:42 PM

    “Things could always be worse” says Heather Humphreys.
    Things could always be better too or have we forgotten?

    225
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    Mute Patrick MC Dermott
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    Jun 26th 2024, 1:47 PM

    I was reading that an 18 year old caught driving at 160 kph didn’t even get a driving ban. The judicial system in this country is a joke. Why bother obeying any traffic laws. A small fine will see you OK. I honestly don’t know how judges completely overlook the seriousness of an offence when a solicitor who is unsworn, can give evidence on behalf of his client, which doesn’t have to be ( and usually isn’t) true.

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    Mute David Murray
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    Jun 26th 2024, 2:40 PM

    @Patrick MC Dermott: What do you expect from Judges who have been appointed by Politican’s your old buddies in FFG.

    203
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    Mute Patrick MC Dermott
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    Jun 26th 2024, 5:14 PM

    @David Murray: They are not my buddies! I disown evey one of them.

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    Mute Matt D
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    Jun 26th 2024, 2:37 PM

    What do they expect with the lack of rental accommodation when they refuse to acknowledge the elephant in the room?

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    Mute F Fitzgerald
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    Jun 27th 2024, 12:14 PM

    Air BnB.

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    Mute Robert Halvey
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    Jun 26th 2024, 2:13 PM

    Keep voting ffg and all the issues will remain, you may think it’s OK because we own property,, but greed and fear is what ffg are based on , be brave the next time you vote add a little spice in your life

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    Mute Mr “JonnieBoy” Johnson
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    Jun 26th 2024, 4:46 PM

    Those people in sleeping bags in doorways are not homeless, theyre just urban camping or else a doorway is categorised as a home maybe? Thanks HH, there was me thinking they were homeless. So no homeless crisis,problem solved .

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    Mute bruce banner
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    Jun 26th 2024, 2:24 PM

    Stephen donnelly really starting to look like a villain in a marvel movie….

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    Mute Marcus Maher - Triskellion Films
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    Jun 26th 2024, 3:55 PM

    @bruce banner: Haha…a cone headed Thanos.

    47
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    Mute Marcus Maher - Triskellion Films
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    Jun 26th 2024, 3:54 PM

    No, they are not living on the streets but euphemistically “living on hard concrete” seriously.

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    Mute Paddy C
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    Jun 26th 2024, 5:01 PM

    That’s great was will they raise they’re children in bedsits so while working 40 hour weeks to no avail. The solution is bring more people into the country that’ll solve it definitely help with demand anyway.

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    Mute Wayne Shoes
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    Jun 26th 2024, 4:02 PM

    Out with the blueshrts.

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    Mute Pauline Cahill
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    Jun 26th 2024, 6:33 PM

    She needs to start looking after our own homeless not other countries who come here

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    Mute Paddy Short
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    Jun 26th 2024, 6:36 PM

    Should she not mention that the numbers in Emergency Accommodation is approximately 45,000 people when you include 30,000 IPAS applicants.

    Arguably one of the biggest decisions affecting Ireland is the EU Migration Pact and amazingly barely a whisper of news about it here on The Journal, why is that I wonder, it’s high relevant to this news story for example.

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    Mute Allo Allo
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    Jun 26th 2024, 4:57 PM

    HH is correct and just stating facts, many people and families are declared homeless and accomadated in hotels and other places at the States expense. In fact many hope to jump the housing que by declaring homelessness. As for those actually on the streets, it’s not everybody that is homeless.

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    Mute Dave F Sov
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    Jun 26th 2024, 4:01 PM

    She’s right though

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    Mute Gearoid MacEachaidh
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    Jun 26th 2024, 5:13 PM

    @Dave F Sov: People don’t seem to read the article, or if they do they ignore what was actually said and replace it with what they want to see. She was asked about homelessness and the amount of families that are homeless, and it’s a disgrace alright. But she quite rightly pointed out that homeless doesn’t necessarily mean on the street. ALL homeless people are offered emergency accommodation, and families with kids are prioritised. When you read the comment sections here and elsewhere you’d think they were all sleeping on the street. Again the homeless situation is a disgrace in Ireland but getting angry about fake things is a waste of time and energy. Focus on the facts.

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    Mute Aidan Butler
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    Jun 26th 2024, 7:38 PM

    @Gearoid MacEachaidh: but they are on the streets. A lot of families are pushed out of b&bs , hostels etc during the day, only being allowed to sleep there in the evening.

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    Mute Chris
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    Jun 26th 2024, 8:18 PM

    @Gearoid MacEachaidh: yes indeed she should.focus on the facts

    This same woman claimed there was now over 2000 extra Garda on the streets recently

    When Ben Scallan drilled down into it ,she was beaten into submission of the paltry figure of just 16 ACTUAL extra Garda

    So yes focus on the FACTS INDEED

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    Mute Gearoid MacEachaidh
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    Jun 26th 2024, 11:07 PM

    @Aidan Butler: they are not sleeping on the streets. That’s what I said.

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    Mute Gearoid MacEachaidh
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    Jun 26th 2024, 11:12 PM

    @Chris: you sure that was her and not Helen McEntee? Either way nothing at all to do with this story or my comment

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    Mute F Fitzgerald
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    Jun 27th 2024, 12:16 PM

    @Gearoid MacEachaidh: But they are on the streets. Imagine being up all night with a sick child & then turfed out to shelter from the rain all day until you are all allowed back inside your emergency accomodation.

    7
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    Mute Wayne Shoes
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    Jun 26th 2024, 4:07 PM

    This one is absolutely disgusting.This one would love to hang poor people.

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    Mute Kathleen Peters
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    Jun 26th 2024, 6:08 PM

    ,i live alone have no family,worked until i got a virus in 2019,went into the brain,ive ended up wit 5 autoimmunes GP and Consultant wrote letter 4new foam mattress and a recliner chair,I applied,give all my details,I pay the credit union 75 a week,I can’t survive since this inflation,I had 1300 in the credit union,and 214 in my bank account,I put in a price for 500 for a mattress,I could have went for a lot dearer,the recliner was 350,I got 500 put into my account,I didn’t get the letter until the day after,I ordered the mattress,in the letter 150 for a mattress and 350 for the chair,so I appealed it,told the 1300,i can buy 1,car insurance 590 last week,the house needs work doing,she saying once of payment to help,it would have all went into house,I’d ave receipts,did anyone get it

    14
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    Mute Wayne Shoes
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    Jun 26th 2024, 8:44 PM

    Weres the orange man John Mulligan.He should be in here backing the blueshrts up.I think his slipping up

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    Mute H Woo
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    Jun 26th 2024, 7:30 PM

    Any sign of the Home sweet Home. Cash that was unspent?

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    Mute Wayne Shoes
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    Jun 26th 2024, 8:42 PM

    Give that bass drum plenty of a pounding passing the chapel there pat Hazzard.

    6
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