Minister for Housing Eoghan Murphy; latest homelessness figures from the Department of Housing
This morning.
The Department of Housing released it’s homeless figures for April.
It found that a new record of 10,378 people (6,584 adults and 3,794 children) were living in emergency accommodation in the final week of April.
Some 1,729 families were also recorded as living in emergency accommodation in April.
In March there were 10,305 people accessing emergency accommodation – 6,484 adults and 3,821 children. There were also 1,733 homeless families accessing emergency accommodation.
Therefore, this morning’s figures show there has been an increase of 100 adults, a decrease of 27 children, and four families living in emergency accommodation since March.
Asked about the figures this morning, Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy said:
“It’s hugely disappointing to see the numbers up again but we have seen a decrease in the number of families and children in emergency accommodation month-on-month. It’s a small decrease but it’s still a decrease.”
Depaul CEO Kerry Anthony said:
“The increase in those experiencing homelessness, the fourth in as many months shows that something is still very wrong with the way we are dealing with homelessness. We know house building is the real solution but in the interim we need to take measures that stop people entering homelessness.
“Depaul recently launched our awareness campaign ‘Real Doors of Dublin’ highlighting the on-going homelessness and rough sleeper crisis. We are urging people to stay sympathetic to those experiencing homelessness.
“There is a danger with such high numbers that the public may see homelessness as an issue that cannot be solved. That homelessness is simply a part of everyday life. This cannot happen.”
Read the department’s report in full here
UPDATE:
Eoin, in comments, writes:
Disappointing”, where have you heard that word or minimal variations thereof before?
Looking back at the comments accompanying previous month’s homeless figures, all [bar the first which is Leo’s] from Eoghan Murphy since he’s been the housing minister (June 2017):
March 2019
“The situation is “disappointing and very depressing”. [Leo Varadkar]
February 2019
“The increase in homelessness in February is hugely disappointing.”
January 2019
“It is very disappointing and we remain in a very difficult situation where homelessness is heavily impacting on the lives of families and individuals.”
November 2018
“It is very disappointing to see more children in emergency accommodation as we enter into Christmas week.”
September 2018
“We are still very much in the midst of a crisis in homelessness in this country.”
August 2018
“Earlier this year a number of categorisation errors were identified and corrected in the March and April reports.”
July 2018
“Any increase in the number of people accessing emergency accommodation is unacceptable.”
June 2018
“Obviously any increase in people accessing emergency accommodation is unwelcome but it is good to see a decrease in the number of children and we are seeing a continued stabilisation of the numbers of people in emergency accommodation.”
May 2018
“Any increase in people in emergency accommodation is very disappointing.”
March 2018
“A number of local authorities have erroneously categorised individuals and families living in local authority owned or leased housing stock, including in some instances people renting in the private sector but in receipt of social housing supports, as being in emergency accommodation.”
January 2018
“The increase in homelessness in January was anticipated to a degree.”
November 2017
“Obviously the increase in November is disappointing.”
August 2017
“While the number of family presentations nationally in August has increased by 13 overall, the figure for Dublin has fallen by 32.”
“….but it’s what is needed. The excitement of living in a hotel room, sometimes larger than a car parking space…” Love Eoghan
He probably stayed in one when he was inter-railing and thought it was coooooool.
The new focus will be on keeping the numbers below 10,500.
I’ve no doubt it’s not an easy portfolio, and is always doomed to failer (like health) for various reasons (worst among them being people believe they have a right to free accomodation) however, he is disgracefully bad at this job. By any measure he has been a failure surely. He’ll somehow still get reelected, like Leo, but the pair of them are woefully out of their depth.
Murphy’s seat is in danger
It’s not always doomed to fail. Murphy is failing because he’s not doing enough. But to say it’s impossible is to completely let him off the hook.
Vacant site levy including all vacant, viable sites in high-demand areas.
Build on state-owned lands.
Rezone under-utilised industrial land for housing (specifically around Broombridge).
Refurbish boarded-up or derelict council houses.
I’m sure if it was my full-time job, I could come up with other ideas.
“Disappointing”, where have you heard that word or minimal variations thereof before? Looking back at the comments accompanying previous month’s homeless figures, all [bar the first which is Leo’s] from Eoghan Murphy since he’s been the housing minister (June 2017).
March 2019
the situation is “disappointing and very depressing”. [Leo Varadkar]
Feb
“The increase in homelessness in February is hugely disappointing.”
Jan
“It is very disappointing and we remain in a very difficult situation where homelessness is heavily impacting on the lives of families and individuals. “
Nov
“It is very disappointing to see more children in emergency accommodation as we enter into Christmas week.”
Sep
“We are still very much in the midst of a crisis in homelessness in this country”
Aug
“Earlier this year a number of categorisation errors were identified and corrected in the March and April reports.”
July
“Any increase in the number of people accessing emergency accommodation is unacceptable”
June
“Obviously any increase in people accessing emergency accommodation is unwelcome but it is good to see a decrease in the number of children and we are seeing a continued stabilisation of the numbers of people in emergency accommodation.”
May
“Any increase in people in emergency accommodation is very disappointing.”
March
“A number of local authorities have erroneously categorised individuals and families living in local authority owned or leased housing stock, including in some instances people renting in the private sector but in receipt of social housing supports, as being in emergency accommodation. “
January
“The increase in homelessness in January was anticipated to a degree.”
Nov 2017
“Obviously the increase in November is disappointing.”
Aug 2017
“While the number of family presentations nationally in August has increased by 13 overall, the figure for Dublin has fallen by 32. “
But didn’t Simon Coveney sort all this out on his way through ages ago?
Oh, wait, never mind.
He surely wouldn’t have been promoted to Tánaiste unless he did a good job in Housing.
No mention of immigration ?
If this year’s figures continue the upward trend Ireland will have had a net immigration figure of non-nationals of around 90,000 in just three years.
They’ve gotta live somewhere.
What’s that you say ? Yes,yes,we all love a bit of multi-culturalism but you’ve got to house your own citizens too …
Toodles.
We need immigration to sustain economic growth.
The solution is to increase housing, not decrease population.
we need houses to sustain immigration….unless you’ve no quams about tenement living for the working classes
I thought this bottomhole was banned?
I don’t know if that’s our old friend.
Maybe the poundland version, at a push.
are you familiar with the musings and writings of gemma, charger?
It’s pretty obvious that a party so invested and protective of the market will never even begin to tackle homelessness. This problem requires radical solutions including CPO of housing stock and nationalising the housing allocation system. Otherwise it’s a race to the bottom with higher rents and co living solutions.
Why are people even discussing this. The electorate voted last Friday and they voted for homelessness, a third world health care system etc etc etc.
Irish people are happy for this to continue and that’s reflected in the huge numbers of FF FG politicians elected and re elected.
Irish people need to now just accept that this is the new Ireland, homelessness is the norm and anyone that doesn’t have a good life well that’s down to their terrible life choices. that’s what I hear from the electorate and it’s reflected in votes.
How many Dubs gave Maurice Mc Cabe the middle finger? multiples of thousands of them
Thanks blushirts
The blue shirts are only there because the electorate put them there. Why are you blaming the blue shirts? The electorate endorses them so you need to thank the hundreds of thousands of Irish people who vote for this abomination.
Don’t forget to thank the hundreds of thousands of Irish people that didn’t bother to vote.
It should be an offense to not vote