As we come up to Christmas homeless numbers still remain high, particularly for single people. Figures released following the December South Dublin County Council meeting show that a total of 466 households in the county are homeless. Of those 293 are single people, 16 are couples and 157 are families. In December 2020 the total homeless figure in the county was 512. There has been a small decrease in the number of homeless in the past year however a lot more is needed to significantly reduce this number. Rents are continuing to increase in the area while wages and welfare payments remain low.
People Before Profit Cllr Madeleine Johansson commented: “I’m very concerned about the consistent high levels of homelessness in our county. I have families contacting me because they have been given a Notice to Quit by their landlord but they just can’t find a new home to rent, or can’t afford the high rents being charged by landlords.
“There also needs to be more actions taken to accommodate single people in social housing. I have raised the lack of 1 beds on many occasions in the council and I have urged council management to make the provision of 1 bed units for single people and couples a priority. In a separate report at the meeting the Director of Housing Colm Ward acknowledged the need for 1 bed units in the county.”
Gino Kenny TD added: “No one should be facing a Christmas without a home. Successive governments have failed to take action to solve the housing crisis. Fine Gael’s mantra of leaving housing to be sorted out by the private market has been a disaster. In the new year we need people to join together and come out on to the streets to demand a change in housing policy.”
