The housing crisis in Ireland has reached a critical point, with over 14,000 individuals now in emergency accommodation, according to recent statistics. The alarming figures include more than 4,000 children, highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive action to address the housing shortage.
The latest data reveals a 14% increase in the number of homeless people in emergency accommodation over the past year. David Carroll, the head of the homelessness charity Depaul, has called for immediate government intervention to tackle the escalating crisis. Carroll emphasised the need to raise the government’s housing targets from the current goal of 33,000 homes by 2025 to at least 50,000 homes.
Focus Ireland, another prominent charity, has also urged the government to implement key recommendations from a recent Housing Commission report. The report outlines several strategic measures to alleviate the housing shortage and improve the overall housing system in Ireland.
The statistics, published by the Department of Housing, focus on the number of homeless individuals in emergency accommodation. These figures do not account for rough sleepers, individuals in domestic violence shelters, or those seeking asylum. Since data collection began in 2014, the number of people in emergency accommodation has steadily increased.
In April, the total number of people seeking emergency accommodation reached 14,009, an increase of 143 from the previous month. The data also indicated that 1,996 families were in emergency accommodation in April, 15 more than in March. Dublin, in particular, has seen a significant rise, with 10,216 people currently in emergency accommodation.
Catherine Kenny, the chief executive of the Dublin Simon Community Centre, attributed the increase to fewer people leaving emergency accommodation. “This is leading to more congestion in an already gridlocked housing system,” she remarked.
Irish Minister for Housing, Darragh O’Brien, acknowledged the severity of the homelessness issue and affirmed the government’s commitment to resolving the crisis. He stated that increasing the housing supply is crucial to addressing the current situation and remains the government’s primary focus.
The escalating housing crisis in Ireland underscores the need for immediate and effective measures to provide adequate housing for all citizens. As charities and government officials continue to call for action, the hope is that these efforts will lead to meaningful improvements in the housing system and ultimately reduce the number of people in emergency accommodation.
