23 February 2024
2024 and the number of people experiencing homelessness is still rising – Simon Communities of Ireland
The latest figures released by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage shows that the number of men, women and children in homelessness was 13,531 in January.
The Simon Communities of Ireland have expressed their dismay at the disheartening reality that, more than a decade into the homelessness crisis, not enough has been done to address homelessness and the numbers continue to rise.
The latest figures show an increase of 1,777 people (15%) in emergency accommodation
in the 12 months since January 2023.
- 1,940 were families – a 21% (331) increase in the year
- 4,027 were children – a 17% (596) increase in the year.
Wayne Stanley, Executive Director of the Simon Communities of Ireland, said:
“We’re in the tenth year of a homelessness crisis driven by a housing crisis that has resulted in the unprecedented record levels of men, women and children in emergency accommodation seen in these figures today.
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. 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.
Actions they can take include building on the success of the tenant in situ scheme. Tenant in situ has proven effective in preventing homelessness for those eligible, by supporting local authorities to purchase homes from a landlord selling up and keeping the individual or family in their home. Targets for this scheme can be increased.
Implementing the Simon Homeless Prevention Bill is another action that can be taken. This legislative proposal creates a targeted moratorium on eviction for those deemed to be at imminent risk of homelessness and creates the time for Local Authorities and agencies, like Simon, to proactively intervene to prevent individuals and families entering homelessness.”
ENDS
For further information contact Aileen Gaskin 087 7724 717 / communications@simoncommunity.com
