An Irish charity has hit out at new figures which show that the number of people experiencing homelessness in Ireland is on a record-breaking rise with over 10,000 suffering from the epidemic.
Official statistics from the Department of Housing, released yesterday, show that there is now a combined total of 10,264 people homeless and living in emergency accommodation. The numbers taken over the course of one week in February show that there were 6,480 adults and 3,784 homeless children living in emergency accommodation in the State, a significant rise of 277 people from January.
Commenting on the figures, Kerry Anthony, CEO of homelessness prevention charity Depaul Ireland, said that the news was “hugely disheartening” and that the causes of the crisis must be analysed.
“To see the figures reach over 10,000 is hugely disheartening. It indicates that many challenges remain with regards to homelessness in Ireland. We need to be continuously looking at and monitoring the reasons behind these increases. However, it is not enough to identify the reasons, we must also act upon this knowledge,” Ms Anthony said.
She added that homelessness has a “detrimental” impact on people’s lives and that immediate action is needed to prevent further cases.
“For any person or family to find themselves homeless can have a detrimental impact on their lives, no matter how brief their stay in homelessness is. We need to work together and look at ways of preventing people and families from entering homelessness and moving people out of it as quickly as possible.”