In June, a total of 14,303 people sought emergency homelessness accommodation, with 9,899 adults and 4,404 children needing assistance. These figures marked a slight increase from the previous month, as reported by the Department of Housing.
Despite efforts to find alternative arrangements, only 786 adults and 259 families were able to exit emergency housing between April and June. Minister for Housing, Darragh O’Brien, emphasized the government’s commitment to addressing homelessness, with €242 million allocated for homeless services this year.
The Dublin Simon Community highlighted the severity of the situation, noting that the number of people in emergency accommodation exceeded the capacity of Hill 16 in Croke Park. CEO Catherine Kenny called for urgent action to tackle the root causes of homelessness.
As the government faces mounting pressure to address the housing crisis, it remains to be seen what steps will be taken to alleviate the strain on resources and prevent further increases in homelessness.