Homeless charities demand budget action as latest figures show 8,700 in emergency shelter

CHARITIES HAVE URGED the government to take action on next month’s Budget as the latest figures show just over 8,700 people were left homeless in Ireland in August.

The 8,728 people in emergency shelter last month was a slight decrease from the 8,728 homeless in July.

There were five additional adults, 6,082 people, homeless last month, but there were 31 fewer children, 2,620 children, in emergency shelter.

The small drop this month follows a trend that started in March with a drop in the number of homeless people in Ireland.

However, charities have warned that these advances will be reversed after the government lifts the moratorium on evictions and the rent freeze.

These organizations operating in the sector hope that Budget 2021, which will be released in October, will offer greater support to help address the problem.

Peter McVerry Trust CEO Pat Doyle said: “As a minister [Darragh O’Brien] You’ve already pointed out, the big challenge is securing single-person homes, and the 2021 Budget, due to be released in a couple of weeks, should ensure that it promotes and enables greater delivery of one-bedroom homes. This could include incentivizing the delivery of over-the-counter apartment schemes by reducing the VAT rate on renovation works and reuse of empty spaces in the city center ”.

We can see from the monthly figures that the number of homeless adults who are single remains stubbornly high. This group is heavily dependent on the delivery of more one-bedroom homes.

Dublin Simon Community, meanwhile, issued a warning that figures indicate the number of homeless singles in Dublin could hit 3,000 by Christmas.

Its CEO, Sam McGuinness, said: “In four years, we have seen the number of single people in emergency shelter increase by 100%, while the number of housing solutions for these people has failed time and time again to the height or has been completely exhausted. It is almost impossible for a single adult to be able to pay the rent charged in Dublin for a one or two bedroom apartment.

Covid-19 has already decimated our social housing goal for the year. With budget day fast approaching, we must create specific goals and funding for one- and two-bedroom units before our vulnerable singles mark another six months in overcrowded emergency housing facilities.

Meanwhile, Inner City Helping Homeless welcomed the “minor reductions” but added that they are not something to “get too excited about.”

Its CEO, Anthony Flynn, said: “We are seeing an increase in the number of homeless adults and the overall figure for Dublin has risen again. We saw significant reductions in the numbers while the eviction ban was in place and that trend was, as soon as it was lifted, we see increases. “

Social Democrats’ housing spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan said: “I call on the Housing Minister to immediately come up with legislation permanently removing most of the grounds for eviction to bring us in line with most other European countries. .

Organizations working with the homeless have reported a significant increase in people sleeping outside and facing increasing obstacles to accessing emergency shelter. We need a hard sleeper count ASAP.