THE NUMBER of homeless children in the Mid West – most of them in Limerick – has almost doubled in the last year to more than 200.
The number of homeless adults has also jumped significantly in the same period.
Department of Housing homelessness figures for September show 201 children and 118 families homeless in the Mid West. That compares to 137 children and 117 families in September 2023.
In all, there were 532 adults recorded as sleeping in hostels and other emergency accommodation in September, the second highest figure in the country. Of those adults, 452 were in Limerick.
182 children and 522 adults were reported as experiencing homelessness in the Mid West in August – 447 of which adults were in Limerick.
Commenting on the figures, Depaul chief executive David Carroll said the homelessness charity is calling on any new government to take radical action in the face of a crisis that hit a new record level with over 14,760 people, including 2,133 families, accessing local authority managed emergency accommodation.
“Housing for All has brought some progress and without the actions taken in the last couple of years Ireland’s housing crisis would be in an even more dire situation,” he said.
“However it hasn’t been enough and any new government must adopt a radical approach to addressing this national crisis.
“The obvious truth is the housing market is not working for those most vulnerable, and particular cohorts such as single and young people are particularly disadvantaged.”
“The coming election must give hope to those more than 14,760 people languishing in temporary accommodation, many who have been there for over a year or more and there is no coherent housing plan for those in direct provision who have permission to remain in Ireland.
“We have a generational opportunity to utilise the power of the state to create a more cohesive society. We eagerly await confirmation of how Apple’s €13billion tax payment could be spent on infrastructure and housing. In the meantime any new government must gather a strong response to this crisis,” he said.
“Housing is the most basic and fundamental need, yet a large number of people in this country do not have a secure, affordable, decent place to call home. Something has to change.”
