The Simon Communities of Ireland have said that new figures showing 8656 people in emergency accommodation in September is part of a changing picture of homelessness.
8,656 men, women and children were in emergency accommodation during the week of September 21th to 27th, according to the latest figures by the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government. This represents a decrease of 46 people in emergency accommodation since August. The new figures show:
- 4452 single people are now in emergency accommodation, an overall increase of 10.66% since September 2019, when the figure was 4023.
• 1128 families are living in emergency accommodation, a decrease of 35.7% from September 2019, when the figure was 1756 families.
Wayne Stanley, National Spokesperson for the Simon Communities stated that, “Year on year single homelessness is up almost 11%.
We have made progress in the last months on family homelessness, which is very welcome. The number of single people in homelessness continues to rise.
The moratorium on evictions prevented many people from having to enter homeless services but it does not stop homelessness, it is a welcome temporary fix. Simon services across the country, in particular preventive services, are as busy as ever.
What’s really needed to successfully deal with the homelessness crisis is a supply of secure, affordable homes at the scale required and increased action on prevention.”
For media queries and interview requests
Wayne Stanley
P: 087 799 3860
E: communications@simoncommunity.com
About Simon Communities
The Simon Communities support over 16,700 men, women, and children. We have 50 years of experience providing homeless, housing and treatment services to people facing the trauma and stress of homelessness. We are a network of independent Communities based in Cork, Dublin, Dundalk, Galway, the Midlands, the Mid West, the North West and the South East, responding to local needs and supported by a National Office in the areas of policy, research, communications and best practice. We share common values and ethos in tackling homelessness and, informed by our grassroots services, we campaign for more effective policies and legislation regionally, nationally and at European level. Whatever the issue, Simon’s door is always open for as long as we are needed. For more information, please visit www.simon.ie.
Services include:
- Homelessness prevention, tenancy sustainment and resettlement.
- Street outreach, emergency accommodation and harm reduction.
- Housing with support and Housing First services.
- Homeless specific health and wellbeing services (counselling; addiction treatment and recovery; and mental health supports).
- Personal development, education, training, and employment services.
- Food banks, drop-in centres and soup runs.
