Introduction
Homelessness rarely has one single cause; usually it is due to a number of factors. Primary causes relate to poverty, inequality and lack of affordable housing, often coupled with systems failures and individual circumstance. The Simon Communities come across many reasons why people become homeless and we deal with them all. We reported a 41% increase over a two year period in the number of people turning to us for help in 20141. Ireland is in the middle of a nationwide homeless and housing crisis affecting both urban and rural areas. The number of people in emergency accommodation continues to grow, highlighting the extent of the crisis and the vulnerability of many people to homelessness. Limited access to housing and support services is both increasing the risk of homelessness and preventing people from moving out of homelessness. Responses must be nationally driven but locally resourced and delivered to ensure people can remain in their communities where they have family and support networks when they run into housing and income difficulties. These are often the times when these supports are most important.
