TD for Dublin Mid-West, Eoin Ó Broin has called on government to take urgent action as the number of people experiencing homelessness in Dublin has reached 7,200. Figures from the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive show the situation in Dublin is deteriorating . At the end of April 2022, there were 956 families in emergency accommodation – this is an increase of 55 compared to March 2022, and an increase of 257 when compared with the same period in 2021.
For each single adult that left emergency accommodation to a tenancy in April, nearly 4 single adults entered emergency accommodation. 40 single adults exited to tenancies in April 2022 compared to 139 in April 2021. The number of single adults presenting as homeless and using emergency accommodation for the first time was 165 in April 2022. This is an increase of 28 compared to the same period last year.
Speaking recently, Deputy Ó Broin said: “We are once again at record levels of homelessness. This is entirely an effect of the government’s actions. The private rental sector is shrinking every month, and the government refuses to take appropriate action to mitigate this and hence stop the mass evictions that we are seeing here” “Sinn Féin, and a number of NGOs have called on the government to allow councils to buy rental properties where HAP or RAS tenants have an eviction notice, to prevent the family becoming homeless.”
“The government must also take action to progress the Simon Communities (Homeless Prevention) Bill, which was passed by the Dáil late last year.” With regard to long term homelessness in the Dublin region, the numbers continue to remain alarmingly high. 155 families have been in emergency accommodation for 2 years or more, while 552 single adults have been in homelessness for 2 years or more. “These are real solutions that could have a positive effect on the numbers we are seeing here”
“Homelessness is rising across Dublin and throughout the country, but it is preventable. If we act now and take the right decisions , we can halt and reverse this trend. But, it will take the Minister acting urgently. So far in his tenure, such kind of action doesn’t seem to be within the Minister’s vocabulary. His focus seems to be consumed with developer lead strategies such as Croí Conaithe, which will push more people into precarious living conditions”
