24th November 2023
As homelessness levels reach a new record high, almost 4,000 children will be without a home this Christmas – Simon Communities of Ireland
The number of men, women and children in homelessness reached a new high of 13,179 in October. The Simon Communities of Ireland have expressed deep concern that these alarming levels of homelessness will continue to grow into 2024 if more solutions are not delivered.
The latest figures show an increase of 352 people in emergency accommodation (16%) in the 12 months since October 2022.
- 1939 were families – this is 47 more than the previous month and a 21% (338) increase in the year.
- 3991 were children– this is an increase of 87 on the previous month.
Wayne Stanley, Executive Director of the Simon Communities of Ireland, said:
This shocking level of homelessness demands further action. We know that the primary solution to homelessness is a home and greater provision of homes to those in homelessness is fundamental. So too is keeping those at risk of homelessness in the home they have. There are some positive examples that show the way forward.
The tenant in situ scheme, where a local authority can purchase a home if the landlord is selling up appears to be delivering for hundreds of families. In the West of Ireland while homelessness continues to rise, the rate of increase has slowed as local authorities in collaboration with Galway Simon put in place preventative services with positive results. So even in this difficult housing climate prevention can work.
These are usually the final monthly figures to be published in the year, an opportunity to reflect not only on how extraordinary this level of homelessness is but also on how we got here. Based on the figures published today almost 4,000 children will spend Christmas in homeless emergency accommodation. When family homelessness was declared a crisis in 2014 it was less that 1,000 children.
If the trauma of homelessness inflicted on children is not enough to ensure action to address the crisis what will be the catalyst for change? The Simon Communities of Ireland and others have been calling for a referendum to enshrine a right to a home in the Irish Constitution, we have to ask if that was in place would we have such alarming levels of homelessness today?
When this government was formed over three and a half years ago, they agreed that such a right is needed, and committed to deliver it but so far that commitment has not been met. They must deliver on the commitment in 2024.
ENDS
For further information contact Aileen Gaskin 087 7724 717 / communications@simoncommunity.com
About Simon Communities
The Simon Communities support over 22,000 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 Northwest and the Southeast, 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:
- Early Intervention, 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.
