Louth TD calls for emergency response to homeless numbers

Louth TD Ruairí Ó Murchú has said that the latest homeless figures released last Friday by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, need an emergency response from the government.

The Sinn Féin TD was commenting after the latest national figures show that 8,742 adults and 3,699 children were recorded as homeless in May, giving a total of 12,441 people, another record high in the number of homeless people in the State.

There has been a slight fall in the number of people reporting as homeless in the North East region, which comprises Louth, Monaghan and Meath.

153 adults accessed local authority managed emergency accommodation in the North East during the week of 22-28 May 2023. This is down from 159 in April. 135 were in Louth, down one from April, and 18 were in Monaghan/Cavan, down from 23 in April. Of the 153 people, 26 were aged 18-24; 74 aged 25-44; 46 aged 45-64 and seven were aged 65 and over.

25 families with 44 children were also recorded as homeless in the North East in May, down from 28 families with 58 child dependants in April.

Commenting on the latest figures in Louth and the North East region, Deputy Ó Murchú said: “We are seeing rising homelessness among the over 65s, and last month there were seven accessing local authority services in Louth, Monaghan and Cavan. We know the true figure will be much higher, as the statistics don’t capture everyone experiencing homelessness.

“Rising levels of homelessness is the direct result of government’s failure to put in place an emergency response to what continues to be an ever-growing humanitarian crisis. Sinn Féin have been urging the Minister for Housing to put in place an emergency response for over a year now.

“Such a response would include suspending planning and procurement powers to deliver additional social and affordable housing using modular building technologies and vacant properties; increasing and accelerating the social and cost rental tenant-in-situ scheme; and crucially restoring the ban on no fault evictions until the number of adults and children in emergency accommodation start to fall."

Deputy Ó Murchú added: “This government is not taking this homeless crisis seriously. No Minister in modern times has presided over such a high and ever rising level of adult and child homelessness. It is clear they do not have the political will to tackle this crisis and both reduce and end long-term homelessness.

“People in Louth will continue to be made homelessness until this government finally shows the urgency that is needed to get to grips with this crisis."

Commenting in response to the national figures in the May Homeless Report, David Carroll, Chief Executive of Depaul, said, “It’s disappointing that we have not seen any significant reduction in numbers. An incredible amount of work is still needed alongside significant additional funding from Budget 2024 to get people out of temporary accommodation which is only meant to be short term.”

“Depaul is continuing to work through its community based  and housing services in order to identify problems on the ground. At present, almost 1 in 2 people in our homeless services (45%) are first time homeless which is a worrying figure.”

“While we welcome the ongoing housing initiatives being announced by the government, we urge that budget 2024 be used in a variety of ways with a key focus on the private rented sector which is a leading driver of homelessness. Renters need renewed confidence in the market and so It’s imperative that tax incentives for landlords are considered in Budget 2024 in order to maintain and boost housing supply within the PRS and to give tenants more security.

"The renters tax relief scheme should also be continued and increased. We call on the government to make landlords with two properties exempt from Capital Gains Tax as part of Budget 2024 in order to increase housing supply.”

“Approved Housing Bodies and local authorities have a key role to play in delivering on housing stock and must continue to be  equipped with adequate resources to manage and purchase housing stock quickly. We support the government's commitment that tenants in situ purchase schemes will remain and be extended.”

“Further consideration should be given to utilising the windfall taxes to increase  social housing numbers as part of the budget. Targets must be met in order to respond effectively to this crisis.”