'Absolute scarcity of accommodation': Leitrim homelessness worse than figures suggest, says Cllr

Around 60 children are experiencing homelessness in the north-west in the lead-up to Christmas, according to the latest figures from the Department of Housing, Local Government, and Heritage.

The report, which was published this month, states that there are 177 adults accessing emergency accommodation across Sligo, Leitrim, and Donegal.

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The bulk of those are in Sligo, with 111. Donegal had 50, while Leitrim accounted for only 16 adults experiencing homelessness when the data was compiled at the end of October.

“That figure masks a whole load of figures,” says Cllr Padraig Fallon, who points out that this figure does not account for those who are without homes who cannot get into emergency accommodation.

“There are many others, and I know of them; I deal with some of them who are sofa surfing,” he says.

“Staying with friends, sometimes with extended family, who are moving around between households, on some occasions every two or three days. I am aware of somebody staying in a tent, I am aware of someone in a car, I know of a young mother and her child sofa surfing between a couple of households.”

Many of those who are dealing with homelessness are also in need of other services, but many are holding down jobs and have an income, but simply cannot find available accommodation, according to Fallon.

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“It is a very difficult thing to do, to hold down a job while you are homeless,” he says.

He believes that the problem has got worse in the last year, amid a shortage of social housing, with around 20 people waiting for emergency accommodation in the county in November of this year.

“There is an absolute scarcity of accommodation; rents have skyrocketed, so you have a combination of factors here.”

The county council has put out an expression of interest to buy properties that can be turned into social housing for emergency accommodation last month.

“Hopefully, we will see more of this accommodation come on board, because there is a need for it. We need more space for these people.”

Nationally, the number of homeless has grown significantly, with a record 16,700 — 11,492 adults and 5,274 children — accessing emergency accommodation as of last month. This marked a 12% rise in the number of people in emergency accommodation.