Dublin Simon Community Statement on December Homeless Report
End-of-year figures for 2023 show lack of housing exits main driver of homelessness in the capital
Dublin, 26th January 2024: Homeless figures released today show 13,318 people in emergency accommodation nationally in December 2023.
9,774 or 73% of affected people are in the capital, with figures continuing to hover close to the national figure from just less than two years ago.
Reflecting on the statistics, Catherine Kenny, CEO of Dublin Simon Community, states: “The total homeless population of our biggest city is approaching the entire homeless population of Ireland from a little less than two years ago. At this rate, we can expect to see even more grim milestones and further overwhelm to the system.”
These figures do not include those rough sleeping and those on our streets seeking asylum.
Reporting in Dublin shows that the lack of move-on for families into homes is clearly cited as the main driver of the increase of the numbers of people experiencing homelessness, and not an increase in presentations.
“The emergency accommodation system itself is bursting at the seams and staff are working at and beyond capacity to meet the growing demand for services. In addition, the housing supply has failed to deliver on substantial exits from homelessness in 2023 in Dublin. For every two families entering emergency accommodation, only one family moves to a home within the same timeframe. Likewise, for every four single adults entering homelessness, only one exits and enters a new home. People are being failed by the system and the detrimental effects of long-term stays in emergency accommodation on mental and physical health are well documented.”
The wider environment is now even more challenging and complex than ever before with high house prices and cost of living pressures, while the supply of social and affordable housing remains critically low for those experiencing homelessness.
“The Government must take direct charge and prioritise and allocate specific local authority units to those homeless and in most need of permanent homes. If the Government believes there is adequate/increased housing supply this must be supported by evidence-based allocations of social housing to those highly, at-risk vulnerable groups, such as those with health issues, and long-term homeless single adults and families.”
ENDS
