Homeless numbers at record high in Limerick
RECORD numbers of people are homeless in Limerick, according to the Mid-West Simon Community.
A total of 547 people, including 145 children, are living in emergency accommodation across the Mid-West region, according to the figures from the Department of Housing. Of these, 144 people are in emergency accommodation provided by the Simon Community in Limerick.
Commenting on the figures, Gearóid Quilty, Fundraising and Communications Manager, said the charity is seeing an increase in the number of people who simply have nowhere to go, due to the lack of suitable and affordable accommodation.
“A lot of our clients who would come to us, some of them generally would have complex needs,” he explained.
“But now, we're starting to see more and more people being affected by homelessness, who the only issue that they have is that they haven't got anywhere, they haven't got a property. They don’t need social support, accommodation is their only issue.”
The homeless service provider said they have assisted 553 people with accommodation in the first six months of 2023 across the Mid-West region, a 10.7% increase over the last 12 months.
The increase has been affected by the lifting of a government moratorium on evictions in the rental market, which ended in April, though only slightly so far according to Mr Quilty.
“I think we'll probably notice that more as time continues. There is a delay within these things, which is helpful for people,” he said.
“We’re gonna see more and more people. And what we're starting to see is people who don't necessarily need the support of an approved housing body, but because of the eviction ban being lifted, properties are their only issue.”