The number of people in emergency accommodation in Dublin has surpassed 9,000, while nationally there are over 12,000 people in emergency accommodation.
According to a homelessness report released today by the Department of Housing, there was a total 12,259 people in emergency accommodation in April. This is a noticeable increase of 271 from March, which saw 11,988 people recorded as homeless.
Dublin has also seen the highest number of people in emergency accommodation with 6,288 adults in April. This figure represented 73 per cent of all homeless adults.
Meanwhile, some 2,722 children in Dublin were living in emergency accommodation. This brings the total number of homeless people in the capital to 9,010 people.
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The increase in people seeking emergency accommodation comes as the winter eviction ban was lifted by the Government on 1 April.
David Carroll, Chief Executive of homeless charity Depaul, said that it is another "appalling milestone" to see that there are over 12,000 people in emergency accommodation nationwide. He said: "We are hugely disappointed to see that the number of people in emergency accommodation is continuing to increase and another appalling milestone is being passed.
"People in short term emergency accommodation are in need of an urgent lifeline to exit homelessness. Whilst we welcome the Government’s commitment to increase housing delivery, today's published report highlights the critical need for targets to be ramped up to reflect the urgency of current housing demands to get people out of temporary accommodation.”
Mr Carroll added that the lifting of the eviction ban last month has had a "significant impact" on homeless figures. "The increase in the numbers clearly shows that the removal of the eviction ban has had a significant impact.
"We are incredibly concerned that the lack of housing options will increase homelessness even further. If in three or four months we don't have it right, we will experience more street homelessness, drug use and families in crisis.”
Mr Carroll said that Depaul has seen one in two service users have been staying in its emergency accommodation services beyond the recommended six month stay, while 60 per cent of these have been in short term accommodation services for one year or more.
He added that this is "not a good long-term environment for anyone - adults or children". Depaul are also urging local authorities must prioritise those in temporary accommodation when new social housing comes on stream.
"We believe that the targets to secure leased properties for social housing use should be increased immediately above the 1,000 tenancy target set by Government.”
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