Concerns as number of homeless in North West continues to rise
NORTH WEST Simon Community has expressed concern at evidence that the number of people experiencing homelessness in the region is continuing to increase at a time when the numbers using emergency accommodation nationally are in decline.
North West Simon Community which provides early intervention and preventative services across the region has observed increased demand for support from households at risk or experiencing homelessness throughout the year. 439 individuals and 174 households received support from the outreach team between January and November of this year. Noel Daly, general manager of North West Simon Community, said there has been a welcome decline of 18.8 per cent in numbers using emergency homeless accomodation across
Ireland but that this downward trajectory has not been felt in this region. “Sadly, we have not seen this decline in the North West, as there has been an increase of 8.3 per cent in the number of people accessing emergency accommodation during the same period. These statistics will not be a surprise to the agencies supporting people experiencing homelessness in the North West,” Mr Daly said.
“The number of people accessing emergency accommodation is only one aspect of a complex problem, and these figures do not adequately describe the full extent of homelessness anywhere in the country. “The figures released by the Government don’t include families in refuges, direct provision, people sharing with family and friends in overcrowded circumstances, or living in cars, vans, or sleeping rough.”
Mr Daly went on to say that there is a housing shortage in Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal which has been greatly exposed by the Covid-19 pandemic. “There is a chronic shortage of housing in Leitrim, Sligo and Donegal, with few if any properties available to rent within the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP), an option that many at risk of homelessness would seek to use.
“The onset of the Covid-19 pandemic and the requirement for social distancing has exacerbated an already difficult situation. “Particularly, for households in enforced sharing situations, the desire for each family to find a home of their own is bound to become stronger as the period of restriction continues to lengthen, and inevitably some of these families end up in emergency accommodation.
“We need decisive and urgent action on the part of the government to deal with this housing crisis, not another five-year plan.”