7,991 people are registered as homeless in Ireland.
That's a drop from 8,082 in the previous month.
Figures from the Department of Housing show there were 5,843 homeless adults in May, and 2,148 children.
There are 4,054 homeless people in Dublin.
Long-term
Dublin Simon says it's concerned about the duration of time spent by single adults in emergency accommodation, with figures showing that 67% of single homeless adults in Dublin are now spending over six months in emergency housing situations which the charity deem “inappropriate” for longer term stays.
The May 2021 Homeless Report, released today by the Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage revealed there were 5,713 people in Dublin emergency accommodation, an 8% decrease on May 2020. The May 2021 figures include 4,054 total adults, 688 families, 3,029 singles and 1,659 children.
While emergency accommodation is a vital 'triage' point in exiting homelessness, the Manager of Dublin Simon’s Longfields Emergency Service James Hinchon says people are staying in these facilities for far longer than the recommended six-month period due to a lack of viable move-on options, particularly for single people.
"Emergency accommodation is intended for exactly that – emergencies. It is not a home. Sharing rooms, living spaces with 20 or 30 people is not the long-term goal, and studies have shown that the longer people spend in these places, the greater the risk to their health and future. "Feelings of detachment and isolation are strong, especially now in a pandemic environment when people do not have the same flexibility to connect with friends and family."
Family
Focus Ireland has called on the government to issue a specific strategy to address family homelessness believing it must be a priority as it prepares to launch its "Housing for All" strategy, the successor to Rebuilding Ireland. The charity is deeply alarmed that the number of families entering homelessness for the month of May has increased for the second consecutive month.
Focus Ireland CEO Pat Dennigan says: "More families becoming homeless is always appalling and wrong, but for it to happen at a time when many are not yet fully vaccinated from Covid-19 is also alarming from a public health perspective. The decision of the Government to lift eviction protections for families before the pandemic is over is both dangerous and uncompassionate. Focus Ireland believes the eviction moratorium should be reintroduced for 6 months as the country gradually begins to open up."
