Homelessness in Kilkenny shows no signs of waning

Kilkenny councillor Eugene McGuinness has expressed deep concern over the ongoing homelessness crisis in Kilkenny.

Speaking at the final meeting of Kilkenny County Council for 2023, Mr McGuinness claimed homelessness is a 'worsening situation' locally and questioned whether there is a cohort who may be ineligible or unable to avail of assistance who may find themselves in difficult circumstances.

The South-East Regional Homeless Action Plan 2023-26 was presented at the final monthly meeting of the local authority.

It outlined stark issues voluntary and statutory homeless prevention bodies in Kilkenny, along with counties Carlow, Wexford, Tipperary and Waterford, are facing and the objectives that have been put in place to counteract the homelessness epidemic.

In a wide-ranging document which consisted of information sourced from local homeless charities, HSE officials and the local authority, a worrying increase in the number of people presenting as homeless or at risk of becoming homeless was recorded.

In December 2022, 42 adults in Kilkenny accessed emergency accommodation, the second highest in the South-East, only headed by Waterford with 74 people.

Kilkenny also came in an unwelcome third position when the number of rough sleepers in the South-East was calculated.

Locally, there were 11 people sleeping rough up until December 2022. Waterford and Tipperary had the greatest number of rough sleepers in the same timeframe, recording 28 and 11 rough sleepers respectively.

According to the report, contributing factors to people sleeping on the streets include family breakdown as well as alcohol abuse and drug use.

The document also found a 'small number' of rough sleepers relocating to other parts of the country and a gradual increase of younger people becoming homeless, a situation traditionally faced by men aged from their late 20s to early 50s.

Overall, 231 people were deemed homeless at the end of December 2022.

The report concluded with a plan of action in an attempt to reduce the number of people without a home.

Solutions included the acquisition of more suitable family accommodation, additional supports for ethnic minorities and the provision of family hubs.

Other key objectives featured sourcing greater funding opportunities and operating with a person-centred approach.