Council spend on homeless 50 times more than in 2013

SHOCKING new figures show that last year Wexford County Council spent over fifty times what they spent on emergency rehousing in 2013. And, last year saw overall administration costs in relation to homelessness rise to over €1 million for the first time.

The figures, obtained by Wexford Sinn Féin councillor Tom Forde, show that in 2013, Wexford County Council spent €16,911 on emergency rehousing. This saw a huge jump to €354,967 in 2014. A slight decrease followed in 2015 but the figures sky-rocketed to €851,181 last year.

The overall administration costs relating to homelessness services rose from €115,245 in 2013 to €1,178,714 last year.

Cllr Forde, who does a lot of work in the area of homelessness, says that we are facing the ‘worst housing and homelessness emergency in the history of this state. This crisis is reflected by the dramatic increase in Wexford County Council’s spend on homeless services which last year rose to over €1 million,’ he said.

Cllr Forde believes a significant chunk of this money is going to privately run B&Bs and hotels who provide emergency accommodation rooms to the council. ‘When the money is spent our council or state does not own one extra single brick of a property. I imagine most people are unhappy to see their taxes being spent on this way. This emergency is not an accident. It is a result of policies that have put the banks and investors first. We need a people-centred housing plan and a real change of direction.’

Cllr Forde acknowledged that council staff are doing their best to manage this crisis with limited resources and said that what is really required is funding from central government to enable councils to build more social housing units and to protect homeowners.