Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien was slammed as “cruel and callous” for proceeding with lifting the evictions ban as the latest figures for homelessness released on Friday afternoon revealed there are 11,742 people with no place to call home.
The new total represents a tiny fall of 12 cases from last month, February.
There are 3,373 children homeless in the total figure.
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The latest figures came just hours before the ban is lifted on Saturday, while calls from opposition parties and homelessness charities to row back were ignored by the Government.
Sinn Féin housing spokesman, Eoin O Broin, said: “The decision to end the evictions ban is a cruel and callous one.
“The February homeless figures from the Department of Housing show a marginal drop in the total number of people in emergency accommodation funded by that Department.
“Last month there were 11,742 people, including 3,373 children, in emergency accommodation. That is a drop of 12 people on the January figures.
“The ban on no-fault evictions resulted in a further decline in family presentations last month with 10 fewer families and 58 fewer children in emergency accommodation.
“However the figures also show an increase of 66 single people and 13 pensioners in emergency accommodation in February.
“There is also a worrying increase in overall homeless levels in Dublin.
“What these figures show is that the ban on no fault evictions was having a positive impact, stabilising the number of people in emergency accommodation.
“Despite this, the government is determined to end this crucial protection for renters today.
“Thousands of households are now at risk of losing the roof over their heads and the government still cannot answer one simple question - where are people to go?
Simon Communities Ireland’s chief executive, Wayne Stanley, said: “While a reduction of 12 people in emergency accommodation in the context of almost 12,000 is small, it is incredibly welcome.
What these figures suggest is that the moratorium, was doing its work, particularly for families, and keeping people out of homelessness.
“Unfortunately, it’s ending today but had it continued and the State taken action to step up initiatives to prevent and address homelessness, there was the potential to make some real and sustained progress.
“We all know that the building of more social and affordable homes is the answer to the homelessness crisis.
“However, the figures today show that if the Government take actions to manage the crisis, we can make the journey to addressing it much less traumatic for those at risk of or experiencing homelessness.
“While we hope that the figures today might give Government reason to review the decision to lift the moratorium, at a minimum, it must act at as an impetus for further action.”
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