Louth TD says latest homeless figures a 'shameful new record' for government

Louth Sinn Féin TD Ruairí Ó Murchú has slammed the government's handling of the housing crisis and has said that the increase in homeless numbers since it ended the ban on no fault evictions was “entirely predictable.”

Homeless numbers in Louth and the North East region continue to climb higher, according to the latest figures released by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, with national figures reaching another record high.

177 adults accessed local authority managed emergency accommodation during the week of 24-30 July 2023 in the North East, with 152 of them in Louth. It is up from the 165 adults recorded in June in the North East region which included 144 in Louth.

Of the 177 adults,33 were aged 18-24 years old; 92 were aged 25-44; 43 aged 45-64. Nine were aged 65 and over, up from eight in June and up from seven in May.

The number of homeless families in the North East region also increased in July, with 38 families, including 70 child dependants accessing emergency accommodation during the week of 24–30 July 2023. It is an increase on the 35 families with 69 children recorded in June.

Nationally, 9,018 adults and 3,829 were recorded as homeless in July, giving a total of 12,847 homeless people, another record high, following the previous high recorded in June when 12,600 people were reported as homeless.

Commenting on the latest figures, Louth TD Ruairí Ó Murchú said that the rising homeless figures in Louth show how “the longer Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil are in office the worse the housing crisis is becoming”.

Deputy Ó Murchú said the figures are a “shameful new record” for the government. He said the figures include adults and children, “who are experiencing the devastating reality of the housing crisis”.

“The real number”, he added, “is much higher as these figures do not include the ‘hidden homeless’ such as those sofa surfing”.

Deputy Ó Murchú said his office has seen “a marked increase” in the number of people asking for help because of their housing situation, with the majority struggling to find somewhere to rent.

He said: “It is abundantly clear that the longer Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil are in office, the worse the housing crisis is becoming. This is their appalling legacy that has dreadful consequences for the real people at the centre of this crisis.

“Too many people are living in emergency accommodation, desperately trying to find a home of their own. Entire generations are locked out of home ownership, trapped paying sky-high rents while they struggle to save up a deposit. The increases we have seen since the government dropped the ban on no fault evictions has been entirely predictable.”

Commenting on what his party would do differently, Deputy Ó Murchú said: “Sinn Féin in government would get to grips with the housing crisis to end the scandal of homelessness. We would treat the issue with the seriousness it deserves, to prioritise delivering genuinely affordable homes to rent and purchase.

“We would reinstate the eviction ban for no fault evictions, to protect renters while housing supply is increased.” Deputy Ó Murchú added, “It’s time for change. Only a Sinn Féin-led government will end the housing crisis.”