Government should hang their heads in shame as Dublin’s homeless numbers near 11,000 – Cllr Daithí Doolan

Sinn Féin Group Leader on Dublin City Council, Cllr Daithí Doolan, has said the government should hang their heads in shame as the latest monthly report on homeless figures from the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive confirms that 10,925 people are now homeless in Dublin.

This represents an increase of 1,019 over the last 12 months.

Cllr Doolan said:

“Today’s figures are truly shocking. Nearly 11,000 people are confirmed homeless in Dublin. This includes 3,475 children, an increase of 359 over the last 12 months. The government should hang their heads in shame.

“These figures do not even tell the whole truth about the homeless crisis in Dublin. Today’s figures hide the many other thousands who are not registered homeless, families who are forced to sofa-surf, staying on friends’ or relatives’ floors.

“Nor do they include rough sleepers, women and children in Tusla-funded domestic violence refuges, men and women in hostels not in receipt of state funding, and people with refugee status but trapped in IPAS accommodation.

“These figures represent the abject failure of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael in government to deliver social and affordable housing

“Their housing policies are the cause of the housing and homelessness crisis. With each passing month, the figures grow higher and higher and the crisis gets deeper and deeper.

“The ongoing dependency on private landlords and developers must end. Otherwise the homeless numbers will only continue to grow with every passing month.

“The incoming government must have a new, radical housing policy delivering the biggest council housing programme in the history of the state. Anything less will only make the situation worse.”