Louth homeless figures continue to rise higher

Homeless figures continue to climb higher in Louth and surrounding counties, with 222 homeless adults recorded in the North East region in April, including 202 in Louth.

According to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage's Monthly Homelessness Report for April 2024, 222 adults accessed local authority managed emergency accommodation during the week of 22-28 April 2024 in the North East, 202 in Louth and 20 in Monaghan and Cavan.

This is up from March when 219 were recorded as homeless in the North East, which included 197 in Louth and 22 in Monaghan and Cavan.

Of the 222 adults, 111 were male and 111 were female. 43 were aged 18-24; 111 aged 25-44; 63 aged 45-64; and five were aged 65 and over. 138 were Irish citizens; 52 were EEA/UK citizens; and 32 were Non-EEA citizens

The number of homeless families in the North East also increased again in April, with 54 families with 116 children accessing emergency accommodation during the week of 22-28 April 2024, up from 52 families, with 113 children in March.

Nationally, 9,803 adults and 4,206 children were recorded as homeless in April, giving a total of 14,009 homeless people,  which is another record high.

Commenting on the latest national figures, David Carroll, Chief Executive of Depaul said that "these latest figures are stark and underline the urgent need for recommendations made in The Housing Commission Report to be implemented.

"The Commission advises that Ireland’s housing deficit be addressed through ‘emergency action’ - this is something that we in Depaul have been calling for consistently.”

He continued: "The Housing Commission Report also highlights that there is a current deficit of between 212,500 and 256,000 homes in Ireland. In 2023, 11,939 new social homes were delivered by Local Authorities and Approved Housing Bodies, as well as approximately 4,000 affordable homes. Depaul supports the Commission's opinion that a radical increase in social housing stock is required.

“Depaul is calling for Government housing targets to be raised from 33,000 homes to 50,000 homes for 2025, in line with a comprehensive review of national housing policy being conducted on how the housing deficit, highlighted by the commission, can be delivered over the next 10 years.

“Depaul has 645 temporary accommodation beds in Ireland, and we continue to see increased demand for these by both families and individuals alike. We are also seeing an increase in poor mental health amongst our service users, which is exacerbated by the uncertainty, insecurity, and relative isolation of their environment.”

 “Alongside the acceleration in housing delivery,  Depaul is calling for a significant increase in investment in mental health supports for people experiencing homelessness. Even if housing supply was to materialise tomorrow, the amount of serious and enduring mental issues being experienced by the people we work with is truly worrying and will provide barriers to people being able to escape the trap of emergency accommodation and rough sleeping.

“This week, we joined with other civil society organisations, including colleagues across the homelessness sector, to voice our concerns about the lack of accommodation for  people who are seeking international protection in Ireland.

"There are currently almost 2,000 people in this situation, who find themselves without safe places to stay or access to basic hygiene facilities. We know that this not only presents immediate challenges, but also longer-term physical and mental health impacts for those who spend prolonged periods in homelessness.

"“This issue can not be divorced from the publication of today's figures.  We are calling again for a whole of government approach to this issue.”