HOMELESS charity Focus Ireland’s 2023 Annual Report reveals that it provided support to 450 Limerick families who were either homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.
These figures were revealed shortly after the Department of Housing reported almost 200 children homeless in the Mid West, 442 adults homeless in Limerick, and 110 families homeless in the Mid West region across July.
Nationally, the charity saw a 12.5 per cent rise in the number of people it supported in 2023 (18,000) compared to 2022 (16,000).
The report also showed Focus Ireland helped 1,757 households to either keep their home or support their exit from homelessness, an increase of nearly 10 per cent on the previous year.
Focus Ireland Mid West Service Manger Kate McGrath said that “in Limerick to date, we have had an 85 per cent tenancy sustainment rate, with 54 tenancies created in total.”
“Our Housing First staff in Limerick work with people who have experienced long-term homelessness and who have complex support needs. It offers people a home with the wraparound health supports and connections to community supports that are needed to ensure that people maintain their housing and improve their overall health and wellbeing.”
Focus Ireland Life president and founder Sr Stanislaus Kennedy sent a strong message to the current government, saying that “homelessness inflicts severe trauma on everyone, but it is especially devastating for children”.
“It is utterly unacceptable that over 4,400 children are currently homeless. We must all take greater action to stop this crisis. Children who are homeless face the risk of losing their childhoods.”
