Expenditure rises in Leitrim but Government must act swiftly on homelessness
Noel Daly, CEO of North West Simon Community, has called for swift action to address homelessness through the full implementation of Action Plans prepared by regional homeless forums across the country.
Noel Daly’s comment follows the publication of new figures which show that 12,259 people were allocated Local Authority-managed emergency accommodation last month.
This latest figure represents an increase of 2.26% since March 2023 and a 49.3% increase when compared to the 8,212 people homeless when Housing for All, the Government’s national strategy on housing was published in September 2021.
Local authorities in the North West region recorded a small decrease in homelessness, with 147 individuals in emergency accommodation in counties Donegal, Leitrim, and Sligo during the last week of April.
The Government’s Monthly Homelessness Report records that 104 homeless households including 14 families, comprising 19 adults and 38 children, and 90 single adults, were accommodated during the week of 24-30 April.
The total number of homeless in the North West last month thankfully represents a slight reduction in homelessness when compared to the 151 homeless last month, but the number of homeless is still 56% higher year on year when compared to the 94 people officially homeless in April 2022.
Noel Daly points out that the Monthly Homeless Reports published by the Government relate only to individuals and families provided with emergency accommodation by the local authorities. They do not include households frequently described as the “hidden homeless”.
People and families sleeping rough, living in cars and tents, sofa surfing, escaping domestic violence, sharing with parents, family, and friends, and/or living in houses unfit for habitation.
Despite not recognising everyone’s predicament, the number of people entering homelessness soared in 2022, as did the cost of providing emergency accommodation in bed and breakfasts, and hotels due to the absence of sufficient supported emergency accommodation.
The latest figures from the Department of Housing reveal that €835,116 was paid to B&Bs, Tourist Hostels, and Hotels for emergency homeless accommodation in the North West in 2022.
Across the 3 counties expenditure increased by 271% from the amount of €224,746 spent in 2021.
Sligo County Council recorded the largest increase of 375% rising from €89,128 in 2021 to €423,212 in 2022. Donegal County Council recorded a slightly smaller increase of 353% with expenditure rising from €77,171 in 2021 to €349,815 in 2022.
By comparison, the increase of 6% incurred by Leitrim County Council was quite modest, however, over the past three years expenditure in the county increased by 306% from €15,276 in 2020 to €62,089 in 2022.
In stark contrast to the increased payments to the hospitality sector, statutory funding for North West Simon Community was reduced by 36% to €60,250 in 2022 from €97,750 in 2021.
Noel Daly explains that difficulty obtaining statutory funding is not a new development for North West Simon Community, as we have always struggled to gain support from the State.
Between 2013 and 2021, North West Simon Community generated an audited income of €4,273,505, of which only 5% came from the three Local Authorities.
Everybody we speak to at the local authority and departmental level expresses a deep appreciation for the work of North West Simon Community, but nobody can explain where the blockage in funding for our services occurs.
The latest homeless figures may spark a political debate about whether the Government’s ending of the moratorium on evictions on March 31st contributed to the latest increase in homelessness, but what we really need today is a focus on the urgent action required to reduce homelessness.
Across the country, Regional Homeless Forums comprised of representatives from all statutory and voluntary agencies working with people experiencing homelessness recently prepared Homeless Action Plans to address the needs in their area. Despite a significant level of planning and debate in each region, the Action Plans are subjected to further review within the Department of Housing, Local Government, and Heritage, after which funding is allocated in accordance with departmental guidelines.
The past experience of the North West Simon Community suggests the level of funding allocated to the region in 2023, is unlikely to permit the speedy implementation of the measures which the North West Regional Joint Homeless Consultative Forum has concluded are needed to address homelessness in the region.
While Government debates how to best manage its expected surpluses in Corporation Taxes, it should take whatever decisions are necessary to ensure that the funding required to fully implement each Regional Homeless Action Plan, is made readily available.