Record homeless reported in Ireland, including 4,000 children

Source: Irish Sun

DUBLIN, Ireland: Newly released figures show that 13,531 people, a new nationwide record in Ireland, were being housed in homeless accommodation as of the end of January, according to the Department of Housing.

A breakdown of the figures revealed that 9,504 adults and 4,027 children were housed in emergency accommodation in January.

However, the January figure showed a slight decline in homeless children, compared to December, when there were 4,105 children in homeless accommodation.

December 2023 was the first time the number of homeless children had topped 4,000.

Of the 1,940 families in emergency accommodation in January, 56 percent were one-parent families and 197 were pensioners, said officials.

According to the Simon Communities of Ireland, 2023 saw a 15 per cent increase in emergency accommodation for the nation's homeless.

"It's disheartening to see that in 2024, we still have not gotten ahead of this crisis. We have known for all those years that the solution is to increase the supply of social housing," noted Wayne Stanley of the Simon Communities of Ireland, as reported by Breakingnewsireland.com.

"We simply have not been building enough social housing and the situation is made worse by the decline in supply and affordability in the private rental market. The absence of supply and affordability is driving the homelessness crisis as it leaves too many individuals and families in precarious living arrangements, putting them at risk of homelessness.

"We need Government to do more to provide support and protection to these individuals and families and prevent homelessness before it starts," added Stanley.

Further, Focus Ireland CEO Pat Dennigan described the increase in homelessness in January as a serious setback.

He called the increase in homeless children "truly heartbreaking" and "an appalling situation".

"Homelessness causes great suffering for all those affected, with children bearing the brunt of its harm," said Dennigan, as quoted by Breakingnewsireland.com.