Single homelessness has increased year on year according to the latest figures by the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government.
The latest figures show 8,313 men, women and children were in homeless emergency accommodation in Ireland during January 2021.
- 4,557 were single adults, a 4% increase on pre-pandemic levels in January 2020
- 966 families were homeless, a 40% fall on pre-pandemic levels in January 2020
Wayne Stanley, National Spokesperson for the Simon Communities of Ireland, said;
“While we very much welcome the fall in family homelessness, it is deeply concerning that single person homelessness continues to rise. A chronic, structural lack of appropriate, affordable housing supply continues to drive homelessness for single people.
While the suggestions from government that the 5km limit may be eased in April will be a welcome relief for most of us, it will mean a lifting of the moratorium on evictions, which is linked to the 5km rule. So this relief for the majority will be a disaster for families and single people at imminent risk of homelessness.
These numbers today raise again our concerns about what will happen as we emerge from this health crisis. The Governor of the Central Bank said recently that the economy might rebound at the end of 2021 as pent-up savings and demand give us an economic boost. However, there’s no pent-up housing and a growing economy with no housing will see homeless numbers rise”
Getting out in front of this homeless and housing crisis will be difficult but it is not impossible if there is a frontloading of efforts now to provide social and affordable housing using all available resources including, local authority stock and EU recovery funding.
ENDS
For media queries and interview requests contact
Aileen Gaskin
P: 087 7724 717
