Sinn Féin junior spokesperson on Housing, Dessie Ellis TD, has said that the government must take immediate action to address the worsening housing and homelessness crisis.
Figures recently published by the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government show a record high of 6,525 people now in emergency accommodation.
Speaking today Deputy Ellis said:
“These figures are further evidence that the housing and homelessness crisis is getting steadily worse. The number of people in emergency accommodation has increased by 40% since last year.
“Worse still, there are now 2,348 children in emergency accommodation and 1,130 families. This is year-on-year increase of 70 and 72% respectively.
“These are damning figures. While the government’s Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness contains initiatives to provide supports for families with children in emergency accommodation, how these supports will be funded is not clear.
“Though the plan was launched with much fanfare in July, it needs to be implemented with immediate effect as the crisis continues to spiral out of control with every passing month. Our most vulnerable citizens deserve to have their right to housing met.”