THE number of people homeless in Ireland hit a record high again last month with 15,378 in living in emergency accommodation.
Homelessness is now 11 per cent higher than it was in the same month last year.
Figures released from the Department of Housing show that there are 10,725 adults living in emergency accommodation along with 4,653 children.
Opposition political parties and housing charities called for emergency action from Government to reverse the trend of rising homelessness.
CEO of the Dublin Simon Community Catherine Kenny said the homeless situation is “spiralling out of control” as she called for new measures.
The charity are calling for dedicated routes to be set up to prevent people falling into homelessness and a dramatic increase in the building of social housing.
The Salvation Army’s Erene Williamson said people living in their emergency accommodation are shocked at the lack of action from Government.
They said: “They are being told that homelessness is the country’s number one priority, yet our service users feel nothing is being done to help them take that vital next step towards independent living.”
Sinn Fein housing spokesman Eoin O’Broin warned that the homeless situation will only get worse if the government pushes ahead with cuts to the tenant in situ scheme which sees councils buy up homes where the landlord has decided to sell.
He said: “If Minister Browne proceeds with these changes even more people will be presenting to homelessness services in the coming months.
“Homelessness is at crisis levels. This is an emergency. We need an emergency response as repeatedly set out by Sinn Féin and others.
“Instead it appears the government intends to actually make things worse.”
