Slight dip in emergency accommodation figures over December

By Cillian Sherlock, PA

There has been a slight decrease in the number of homeless people accessing emergency accommodation, according to the Government’s latest figures.

There were 13,318 people, including more than 3,900 children, accessing such services in December.

It represents an overall decrease of 196 people or 1.5 per cent.

The small seasonal decrease in figures was welcomed by the Simon Communities of Ireland, but the homelessness charity warned it was not a sign of progress.

The Simon Communities predicts that homelessness is set to increase in the coming months.

There were 1,916 families, including 3,962 children, accessing emergency accommodation – a 14 per cent and 15 per cent yearly increase respectively.

Wayne Stanley, executive director of the Simon Communities, said: “Sadly, today’s figures cannot be seen as a corner turned on homelessness.

“It is not unusual to see a fall in homeless numbers in December. Lower numbers in December are a result of those in homelessness being offered respite by relatives or friends from the trauma, over the Christmas period.

“As those supports are not sustainable, we quickly see a return to increasing numbers of people in homelessness.”

The Department of Housing said that 609 households, including 744 adults and 266 families, were recorded as exiting homelessness in the last quarter of the year.

This represents an increase in the last quarter of 7.6 per cent in household exits, 5.8 per cent in adult exits, and 11.3 per cent in family exits.

Nationwide, 1,161 households, including 1,490 adults and 639 families, were recorded as being prevented from entering homelessness during the fourth quarter of 2023.

This represents an increase of 62.8% in household preventions, an increase of 68.9 per cent in adult preventions, and an increase of 96 per cent in family preventions on the third quarter of 2023.

The Minister for Housing, Darragh O’Brien said that those without a home are the Government’s “top priority”.

He said: “My Department is making funding of 242 million euro available for the delivery of homeless services in 2024 – a 12.6 per cent increase on the Budget 2023 allocation and we have been clear that there will be no obstacle in funding much needed services.”

But he added: “There is no doubt whatsoever that immense pressure remains on our homelessness services. Supply of housing and accommodation – social, affordable and private – remains the ultimate solution to addressing the challenge in the longer term.”