Slight decrease in those accessing emergency accommodation in Kilkenny
The number of people in local authority managed emergency accommodation in Kilkenny stood at 42 in the last full week of September.
That’s according to the most recent monthly homelessness report published by the Department of Housing.
This is the second consecutive monthly report where the homelessness figure in Kilkenny has decreased (July - 46 / August - 45).
A total of 257 people were accessing emergency accommodation in the last full week of September across the South-East counties of Carlow, Kilkenny, Tipperary, Wexford and Waterford.
Nationally, this latest homelessness report shows that 12,827 individuals were accessing emergency accommodation, an increase of 136 (1.1%) on the August 2023 total.
This includes an increase of 132 single adults and six families accessing emergency accommodation during the count week.
Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien described the reasons behind the national increase as ‘varied and complex’.
“The government, local authorities and those in our NGO sectors are working together and making every effort to reduce homelessness,” he said.
“The situation is very challenging and tackling this issue is a government priority. We know that increasing the supply of new homes, particularly social and affordable homes, is key to tackling homelessness.
“There is a strong pipeline of over 22,600 social homes either on-site or at various stages of design and procurement.”
Despite being a worthwhile indicator, the Department of Housing’s monthly homelessness reports do not reflect the full extent of local and national homelessness.
This is because government homeless statistics relate only to people provided with emergency accommodation by local authorities.
They do not include people frequently described as the ‘hidden homeless’ that may be sleeping rough, living in refuges, or staying with parents, relatives and friends in overcrowded conditions.