Keep the Numbers Coming Down: Dublin Simon Responds to June 2020 Dublin Homeless Figures

Charity reiterates there can be no going back to the spiralling homeless crisis and is encouraged by new Government focus on continuing the downward trend.

 Dublin, 31^st July 2020: Dublin Simon Community has responded to the June 2020 Homelessness Report with a reminder that there can be no going back to the record levels of homelessness witnessed before the pandemic.

CEO of Dublin Simon Community, Sam McGuinness, said:

“At the moment, numbers are going in the right direction, driven by the continued decrease in child and family homelessness. The right things are being done. There can be no going back to the record and spiralling levels of homelessness we witnessed before the Covid-19 pandemic took hold.

“We are already seeing the social and economic knock-on effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on the most vulnerable in our society. Our mental health and treatment services are experiencing record levels of requests for assistance. People are visibly struggling and are already engaged in a battle for survival.  There is no doubt that further creative responses are needed to deflect a disaster.

“We welcome Minister Darragh O’Brien’s recognition of the accommodation needs of singles in emergency facilities and his prioritisation of increasing the scarce supply of one-bedroom apartments. We look forward to seeing the downward trend in families replicated in the singles category. His acknowledgement of the need for joint funding and cooperation with Department of Health to address the multi-faceted needs of the most vulnerable is critical.

“We welcome the positive step forward addressed in the Residential Tenancies and Valuations Bill 2020 and efforts to provide protections for tenants who have lost income.  Until there is a right to housing enshrined in the Irish Constitution, no single piece of legislation will solve the crisis situation we are in. However, there are still a number of issues to be addressed – particularly in areas like establishing the validity of Notices of Termination and allowing sufficient time for tenants to appeal them.

“At Dublin Simon Community we are committed to rebuilding lives and we will deliver all the support in our power to give hope and homes to those in need.  We offer our support and the benefit of our extensive experience and expertise to Minister Darragh O’Brien as we face the challenges ahead.”

·         6,152 people were recorded in emergency accommodation in Dublin during June 2020, an 1% decrease from May 2020

·         4,173 total adults were recorded in emergency accommodation in Dublin during June 2020, a <1% decrease from May 2020

·         2,897 single adults were recorded in emergency accommodation in Dublin during June 2020, an 1% increase from May 2020

·         871 families were recorded in emergency accommodation in Dublin during June 2020, a 2% decrease from May 2020

·         1,979 children were recorded in emergency accommodation in Dublin during June 2020, a 4% decrease from May 202

ENDS