There's been an increase in the number of people accessing emergency accommodation.
6,205 people are currently homeless in Dublin, that's 4188 adults and 2017 children.
Nationwide the total number is up by 29, to 8728 in July, according to figures released by the Department of Housing.
Concern
CEO of Dublin Simon Community, Sam McGuinness, says: "For five months, Covid-19 emergency measures curbed the flow into homelessness, providing an opportunity to get the numbers down as we continued to move people out of emergency services and into new long-term accommodation coming from the Airbnb and short-term rental market.
"The slight rise in the July emergency accommodation numbers is a cause for concern.These figures represent the last full month before the emergency moratorium on evictions was replaced by the Residential Tenancies and Valuation Act. The new legislation protects those whose income has been impacted by Covid-19, but we cannot forget those who were already in crisis, struggling before the pandemic hit.
"We are at a critical moment here. We must catch these people before they fall down the well of homelessness, because it is immensely difficult to climb back out. A winter like never before is coming and these people simply cannot be left out in the cold."
Simon Communities of Ireland's national spokesperson, Wayne Stanley noted ‘The slight increase in those accessing homeless emergency accommodation in July is an indication that we could be reaching a ‘tipping point’, a lot of good work will be reversed if complacency sets in.’ pic.twitter.com/z2HmRGMv4L
— Simon Communities (@SimonCommunity) August 28, 2020
According to the report:
· 6,205 people were recorded in emergency accommodation in Dublin during July 2020, a 1% increase from 6,152 in June 2020
· 4,188 total adults were recorded in emergency accommodation in Dublin during July 2020, a 1% increase from 4,173 in June 2020
· 2,919 single adults were recorded in emergency accommodation in Dublin during July 2020, a 1% increase from 2,897 in June 2020
· 862 families were recorded in emergency accommodation in Dublin during July 2020, a 1% decrease from 871 in June 2020
· 2,017 children were recorded in emergency accommodation in Dublin during July 2020, a 2% increase from 1,979 June 2020
Children
Pat Dennigan Focus Ireland CEO, says: "As children across the country go back to school we need to ensure that some of the most vulnerable children do not return to homelessness.
"The last 6 months have proved that one of the best defences against Covid-19 is a stable home. Measures such as the moratorium on evictions and rent freezes have clearly worked as the number of children and adults who are homeless has reduced significantly in the last five months. Since the lapse of the initial ban on evictions and rent reviews, our services are now meeting tenants who are facing notices of terminations and evictions which is deeply concerning.
"While the threat of Covid-19 remains I am asking the Minister for Housing, Darragh O’Brien to reintroduce this legislation."
New figures published today show the number homeless in July rose slightly to 8728. Focus Ireland has warned of potential bigger increases in the coming months and has called on government to reintroduce the eviction ban and rent freeze to protect people fully during Covid-19. pic.twitter.com/jdwaJM7B8C
— FocusIreland (@FocusIreland) August 28, 2020
