Nearly 200 children in Cork and Kerry faced homelessness this Christmas, highlighting a growing crisis. Recent figures reveal alarming trends in emergency accommodation across Ireland.
Recent stats show 14,864 people are homeless in Ireland. This number has slightly decreased after reaching over 15,000 in previous months.
From December 23-29, there were 4,510 homeless children in the country. Cork has the second-highest number of homeless adults in Ireland, with 591 adults.
In Waterford, the number of adults in emergency accommodation rose from 109 to 116. However, Clare and Tipperary saw decreases. Kerry and Limerick’s numbers fell by just one each.
Dublin had the highest number of adults in emergency accommodation, totaling 7,320.
Of those in emergency housing last month, 62% were men and 38% were women. Adults aged 25-44 are the most affected, making up 53% of the total.
Cork North Central TD Thomas Gould is calling for urgent government action to address the rising homelessness. Recently, vulnerable individuals in Cork city have tragically lost their lives.
Gould criticized the government for allowing the crisis to worsen. He noted that adult homelessness in Cork has increased month after month.
He highlighted that 25 families spent their second Christmas in emergency accommodation, which is concerning. Children are worried about where Santa will come.
Gould stated that 25% of adults in emergency accommodation in Cork and Kerry have been there for over a year. Only 389 adults left emergency housing last year, creating a bottleneck in the system.
He emphasized the need for a new approach to housing policy, stating that the current situation is an emergency that requires immediate action.
